The seasoned cyclist and Instagramer filmed and uploaded footage of him being swooped by an enormous magpie this morning.

Apparently Maggie the Magpie is a regular on Cuthberts Road during Spring.

Watch his terrifying ordeal below:

“This guy (gal?) swooped me 6 times within 30 seconds,” Steve told his hundreds of Instagram followers.

Steve’s has more up close and personal shots of Maggie the magpie pecking his helmet on his Instagram account @stevecycling.

The account follows Steve’s adventures as his cycles around Ballarat.

Have you been swooped by a magpie this spring? Share your story below. 

THE days are sunnier, nights warmer but don’t be fooled – spring can be the most frightening season of the year.

Adults and children are prompted to stick cable ties to their helmets in a bid to scare off vicious magpies, who in one fell swoop could potentially claw a walker's eye out.

The votes are in and Ballarat residents warn that magpies are nesting at Lake Wendouree, Alfredton, Buninyong, Delacombe and Sebastopol.

 Let us know where you’ve been swooped and help others avoid the area if they can, or at the very least take extra care.

Fill in this form below to add the details of where you were swooped to our state map.

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning senior wildlife officer Brady Childs said swooping was normal bird behaviour.

"Birds swoop only for a short period of time, about four to six weeks, so if possible the best response is to keep away from the area during this time," Mr Childs said.

“People should remember not to harm native birds as they are protected under the Wildlife Act. 

“If you do end up in an area where there is a swooping bird, try to protect your head and eyes and move quickly through the area."

Mr Childs said magpies swooped to defend their young.

"If they perceive you to be a potential threat, they may swoop," he said.

The Courier nature writer Roger Thomas urged walkers to try and stay under shelter or treed areas.

“Magpies have their permanent homes that they live in all year round, including spring,” Mr Thomas said.

“Mostly they live in urban areas – they swoop to protect their chicks and eggs.” 

Mr Thomas said magpies could be extremely vicious, but most of the time they were just a bit frightening.

“I think there have been cases where they have blinded or damaged eyes, or on occasion causes serious cuts.” 

DEWLP identified six different varieties of swooping birds, including the Australian magpies, that lovers of the outdoors should keep an eye out for.

These are the widespread Australian Magpie; the Maggie-lark; the Laughing Kookaburra; the Red Wattlebird and the Grey Butcherbird.