Can no one think of a less deadly solution? Also, the community is called Tweed Heads?
Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.
Mostly magpies are relocated if they get too agressive, and they do sometimes. And speaking as a passionate birder with many years of experience being harassed by wildlife (and harassing it back on occasion) I still find the sensation of being swooped by them alarming and unpleasant, and have felt the feeling of alarm and worry when I approach a site with an agressive bird on a commute or walk. I’m not surprised people take drastic action against them on occasion.