Next time comb your hair

That's what my mother said to me when I told her this story.

Last night I went for a walk around the river. Being a gorgeous night, oodles of people were out during my first lap. Halfway through my second, I noticed that the crowds had definitely thinned out. I was travelling through this area bordered on one side by the river and some tallish bushes, and a couple small deciduous trees on the other. No one else was around. I heard a bird chirping rather angrily to my left. I look to see a red-winged blackbird who was definitely not happy I was there. I took a quick scan but didn't see a nest anywhere. I forged ahead, in the middle of the path.

The bird flew further up to another tree on my right. Squawking right at me as I walked by. Again, I kept up my pace, eyes forward and kept walking. All of a sudden I felt this hard, pointy force ram into the back of my head.

OMG! The bird was attacking me!! I wave my arm behind my head. He backs off, still squawking. Then, again, bang! Into the back of my head. I squeal/scream and jog a couple steps. No! Don't run! It'll only make it fly faster! No wait! That's if a dog attacks you! I stop running! And yet try to run! The bird is still squawking. I feel it come closer again. I wave my water bottle behind my head and hold it against the back of my head. I hear the bird squawking but the volume starts to decrease. He seems to be leaving me alone. I might escape without further harm.

I cross the bridge and continue on my path. On the other side of the river, I watch as others walk past the same spot with no issue. How do they get off scot free? What did the bird have against me?!

I phone home and tell my parents I was attacked by a red-winged blackbird. My mother helpfully suggest that next time I comb my hair. Thanks mom.

(I'm scared to go back. :p)