I don't know why I am afraid of them, always have been....
Many of the Phobias in my family have an underlying cause that usually we dont remember. Mine was caused when a radiologist collapsed my vein during a barium meal. My older sister cant go near ducks and other swimming birds. Turns out she was attacked by a flock of geese when she was only 2yo. My BIL is blind in one eye from a seagull attack when he was just a young boy, but eventually managed to get past his fear of going to the beach. Its easy to develop a fear of birds with our magpies. I am sure you are not alone.