Beware the swooping magpie!
Spring is near and with it comes that menace from the air — the swooping magpie.
The Maggies can give old and young a fright and can be a hazard for cyclists and your local postman, who no doubt appreciate the fact that they’re wearing a helmet.
So it is timely that the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has issued a reminder of swooping magpies during the birds’ breeding season, which lasts until November.
The NPWS says it receives telephone calls about swooping magpies at this time of year. “Magpies are very protective parents and they may swoop anyone they see as an intruder that might harm their chicks,” the NPWS said.
“In most cases the swooping magpie is a male and is simply bluffing. However, there have been magpie attacks where people have received head injuries as a result of dive-bombing magpies.
“People, particularly parents and teachers, are reminded to familiarise themselves with the simple steps to avoid swooping magpies.”
The NWPS says children should be taught to:
- Not provoke the birds
- Wear a hat or helmet to protect your head
- Hold an umbrella or stick above your head to deter attacks
- Hurry past nesting sites
- Dismount if on a bike to avoid falling off, and move away quickly
- Avoid nesting sites
- Warn others about risky locations.
The NPWS says that for the weeks of the breeding season, hormone levels in the male bird are raised to 10 times normal, so it is much more alert and will strongly defend the area around its nest.”
Magpies are a protected species and it is against the law to kill them, collect their eggs, or harm their young.
