BEING swooped by a magpie can be a scary experience, especially for children, but there are things you can do to avoid them during this swooping season.
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CEO of the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife Susanna Bradshaw said the key was to understand the the way magpies behave the way they do.
“It’s important to remember that not all magpies swoop. Female magpies don’t swoop at all as they are busy tending to their chicks and only some males do,” Mrs Bradshaw said.
“In fact it is estimated that only 9 per cent of magpies swoop.
The male magpies that do the swooping, believe they are protecting their offspring.
“They will only swoop for about six weeks of the year between September and October and then they will start to calm down and you can go about your business in peace again.
She said the most common targets for magpies are people riding bicycles, young children and males, although each magpie will usually have its own target.
“The worst thing you can do when a magpie is swooping you is to try and fight back,” she said.
“Throwing rocks or sticks at a magpie will only further aggravate it and encourage it to swoop more, as it shows the magpie that you really are a threat to its babies.
Magpies are a protected native species, so harming them can lead to penalties and fines.”
