The end of winter marks the start of magpie swooping season and Hunter residents have been warned to keep an eye on the skies.
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National Parks and Wildlife Service’s Lawrence Orel said the last weeks of winter and the start of spring was usually when the magpie breeding season started.
“They are territorial and defend the nesting site. This can we very disconcerting for people,” Mr Orel said.
According to Mr Orel, it is usually the male birds that swoop and the most common area for a nest site is a tall tree in an open space.
The territorial activity, or the swoop, will continue for the next six weeks until the newborn chicks leave the nest.
The best advice for residents is to avoid magpie swooping zones completely.
“They will usually swoop in a 100 metre radius,” Mr Orel said.
“People should avoid these areas.
“It might be inconvenient, but we as humans can change our behaviour, they cannot.”
People who do find themselves caught in a danger zone should walk confidently through the area and not react to any intimidating bird behaviour.
“Magpies are important parts of the Australian landscape and are one of the world’s great song birds,” Mr Orel said.
“It is a quintessential Aussie sound.”
Have you been swooped by a magpie? If the location of the swooping isn’t in our map, fill out the form below for it to be included.
Ways to avoid magpie attacks include:
- Be tolerant and do not provoke magpies
- Hold an umbrella above your head
- Move confidently and quickly past nest sites
- Wear a hat, ice-cream container, or helmet to protect your head and sunglasses
- If riding a bike, dismount and move away quickly
- Avoid nesting sites
