Seven-year-old Imogen Liddell has been left blind in one eye after a magpie swooped and injured her while she was riding her bike.
She was with her family in a park in Rockhampton, QLD, and despite Imogen’s mum Jodi being an environmental scientist, the family had been unaware that magpie season had begun.
“I do understand the behaviour of the birds,” Jodi told Kidspot, “and I know no council or Department of Environment can anticipate where an aggressive magpie may be.
“I know everyone needs to be careful. But I hadn’t heard any warnings.”
As she sees it, “It shouldn’t take a girl going blind for word to get out.”
Imogen has been left blind in her left eye following the vicious magpie attack near her Rockhampton home. Pic: Supplied
They didn’t see the bird coming towards them
Prior to the August 27 attack, the Liddell family had been enjoying a lovely Saturday bike ride.
Jodi recalls how she saw the magpie coming up from behind her - it looked like it was simply going to fly past - but then it turned and swooped at Imogen.
“She had no option for defending herself,” she adds. “She’s new to riding bikes and already lacked confidence.
“Had I known it was magpie season I would have been more careful about taking her to that park.”
Extensive damage has been done to Imogen’s left eye. Pic: Supplied
Life after the attack
A distressed Imogen was rushed to Rockhampton Base Hospital, and quickly flown to Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital for surgery.
Extensive damage has been done to her left eye, leaving her blind, very sensitive to light and needing to wear sunglasses to block out the glare.
Her eye’s lens and lens sack were both damaged in the attack, and she underwent surgery that removed most of her iris.
It’s unlikely she’ll regain sight in that eye, and if she does, it won’t be anything like it once was.
Since the attack, Imogen has good days and bad days and has to wear special glasses to block out the glare. Pic: Supplied
“She’s lucky she’s got a lovely little network of friends,” adds Jodi. “They were all sending her photos during the five weeks she was in hospital and off school.
“Even so, each day is a new challenge to get her to school. Each day I have to remind her of what a good day she had the day before - even though she also woke up feeling down.”
Imogen, seven, and her nine-year-old brother Koby hanging out in the park one week before the incident. Pic: Supplied
What all parents should know
Jodi is now keen to spread her daughter’s story in the hope it will make other parents more cautious when it comes to dangerous birds.
While councils should work to make residents aware of the threat magpies cause, the concerned mum noted that the most prominent warnings being circulated were those spread via media and social media.
Her biggest piece of advice for parents is to make sure kids are wearing glasses when out and about in magpie-prone areas.
“Imogen is keen to have all kids wearing glasses,” she shares. “She’s aware that if she was wearing glasses that day things would have been different. After what happened to her, she’s scared for them.”
“And it’s not just magpies. You need to watch out for pee-wees, crows … they’re all territorial birds.”
Today Imogen received a Certificate of Awesomeness for “staying positive even when things are at their worst.” Pic: Supplied
Get off your bikes
Jodi also warns, “If your kids are on a bike and you see a magpie, get off and walk. Keep an eye on the bird and walk until they are out of sight.
“They’re more likely to attack people on push bikes, and the magpie will also swoop a further distance.”
