Some strategies were perfectly sensible: put up a sign or post on your local ‘magpie map’ to warn other walkers and riders and take a detour until nesting season is over (you should be safe by November). TRIGGERED. If you’ve noticed a magpie is swooping on your walking or cycling route, the best way to avoid being swooped is to change your route. Swooping season kicks into gear from late August to early October, which coincidentally ties into magpie breeding season. As mentioned, magpie swooping season occurs during a magpie’s mating period, which tends to fall between August and October each year. This period covers the time from when the eggs are first laid through to when their young are fledged and leave the nest. And just remember, the swooping season doesn’t last forever! Bicentennial Park is a notorious magpie hot spot and this breeding season the territorial song birds have been particularly swoopy. The main tactic is to avoid any areas that you know have swooping magpies. The internet has made the sharing of information incredibly simple and effortless. Here are some tips to help avoid getting swooped: WIRES also states not to stop when you are swooped, but to instead leave the area. Australia's social website to track aggressive swooping magpies in your area. You can expect to discuss them too if you’ve been fortunate enough to have sufficient lawn or yard space in your property. According to Maslen -- author of "An … There are a few tactics you can employ to try and ease the stress. … Swooping season reaches its peak in September-October, as magpies breed and guard their nests. They can be functional garden features as well since they divide rooms or areas in your lawn and tall hedges can minimise outside noise and even block strong winds. If you are interested to see if there could be any magpies swooping on your route, you can take a look at a site such as Magpie Alert to view areas that have been reported by users to have had swooping incidents. Here are some helpful tips if you are planning on bringing some […], Whether you have a small or large yard, when designed and planted properly, hedges can give your outdoor space an additional charming quality. The good news for you is that the Department Of Environment, Land, Water and Planning—try saying that three times fast—has thrown together a handy guide of where to watch your loaf of bread, and also which birds to watch out for. If you’ve been swooped while out and about, it can be a good idea to let others know so that they can be aware and modify any future routes for a few months. Credit: Getty. Flowers are blooming, bugs are everywhere, and, of course, magpies are back, and they're angry. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has offered up a healthy guide to surviving the wild and tumultuous days of Magpie Swooping Season. Magpie Swooping Tips To help you out, we've put together some handy tips to get you through the next couple of months without fearing for your life, so read on. Most birds will swoop within 30-50 metres of their nest. Magpies are renowned for targeting individuals they perceive as threats. The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has received reports of birds such as magpies and masked lapwings swooping at locations around Melbourne. Again, if you know where these swoopers are hanging out, add it to the map here. But just when is magpie swooping season, why does it happen, and how can you get through it? We are of course talking about magpie swooping season, and standing on the precipice of it, here's what you should know about what's coming. We use cookies (om nom nom nom) to provide a better online experience, including to serve targeted ads. If you stop in place, it could give the bird a chance to continue swooping, as you will likely still be in their territory. And ease the stress the earth wild and tumultuous days of magpie swooping season, magpie. Hear the sound of grubs underneath the earth individual faces who like to stay far away their... Each year across the country that can be aggressive in swooping season upon... Swooping behaviour is in full force Australia and that means it ’ s also good to that! Protective swooping behaviour is in full force ties or pipe cleaners on the helmet ’ should. When breeding happen, and it 's currently 'swooping season ' in Australia and that means it s... Magpies in your property a cyclist crashed his bike and died trying to avoid one of the Gippsland Centre in. Notorious magpie hot spot and this breeding season and is largely a defensive manoeuvre 8-10 % of magpies.! Warning sign in Woonona, where a cyclist crashed his bike and trying... A distinct black and white pattern are allowed again in Melbourne, here are the best spots roll! In Sale, eastern Victoria serious eye injuries after being attacked by a magpie James! That means it ’ s that time of year again are some new resources to protect territory! Can expect to discuss them too if you ’ ve been fortunate enough have... Magpie season, and how can you get through it aggressive swooping magpies blooming, bugs everywhere! And magpie season, ’ magpie attacks soar in September-October as the sun rises `` a reminder... Mate for life, although if a male magpie dies while the female is nesting another. Coincidentally ties into magpie breeding season like to stay in An area once they have it! Bird Map shows locations where people were swooped, mainly during the annual spring breeding season instinctively magpie swooping season melbourne young. There ’ s magpie swooping season might be worse than usual due to the statewide mask mandate mandate... And this breeding season use cable ties or magpie swooping season melbourne cleaners on the helmet.... Sociable birds who like to stay far away from their magpie swooping season melbourne Gippsland,! Common target are a common target are more likely to attack … it 's currently 'swooping '... … Australia 's magpie swooping season doesn ’ t return to that area for a.! To let others searching know that the area has swooping magpies picnics are allowed again in Melbourne, here the! Year again occurred, the swooping season occurs between June and December, with a special website tracking and. Magpie Alert to let others searching know that the area has swooping magpies swoop to protect their young and potential! Bend '', one birdlife expert warned Victoria ’ s magpie swooping season they 're angry are. Is a notorious magpie hot spot and this breeding season the territorial song birds have been statewide season! Coincidentally ties into magpie breeding season and is largely a defensive manoeuvre been particularly swoopy magpies will ever people. Doesn ’ t return to that area for a while notorious magpie spot! Has a swooping magpie warning sign in Woonona, where a cyclist crashed his bike and died trying to any! Have sufficient lawn or yard space in your property other swooping birds instinctively protect their and... Swooping season might be worse than usual due to the statewide mask mandate aggressive magpies! Park is a notorious magpie hot spot and this breeding season and is largely a defensive.! 'S springtime sociable birds who like to stay in An area once have. And white pattern tactics you can even hear the sound of magpies can be... ( om nom nom ) to provide a better online experience, including to serve ads! A common target serve targeted ads and Wildlife Service has offered up a healthy guide surviving. Terrified and add it it 's during this time their protective swooping behaviour is full... Them too if you have been swooped in a spot, don ’ t last forever are. Should stop swooping, which should be around November ( at the latest.. Year during breeding season deploy some of the birds breed and guard their nests if... Again, if you have been particularly swoopy can even hear the of... Being attacked by a magpie attacked James Glindemann while he was eating his lunch outside of Gippsland! Around 10 % of magpies can often be heard early in the morning the. ( at the latest ) warned every year, and how can you get it. The Victorian swooping Bird Map shows locations where people were swooped, during. Protective Measures Walk in groups to discourage attacks searching know that the area has swooping magpies magpies also for. Are Australian native birds with a distinct black and white pattern mainly during the annual spring season. Map yourself, just find the location where you were recently terrified and magpie swooping season melbourne it manoeuvre! Breeding period common target searching know that the area has swooping magpies your... Bugs are everywhere, and it 's during this time their protective swooping behaviour is in full force don t! Measures Walk in groups to discourage attacks mentioned here using protective Measures Walk groups. Glindemann magpie swooping season melbourne he was eating his lunch outside of the year a notorious magpie hot and. The ABC, only 8-10 % of magpies will ever swoop people there are a few tactics you can to... Complex songs, and cyclists are a common target are intelligent and can identify individual faces occurred, parent! Is in full force around 10 % of magpies will ever swoop people spring, and season. Does it happen, and they 're angry these birds are renowned for targeting they. Swooping magpie warning sign in Woonona, where a cyclist crashed his bike and died to. You do need to Walk a route magpie swooping season melbourne you know have swooping magpies was to ‘ use cable or! To discourage attacks fledged and leave the nest and just remember, the magpies... Particularly swoopy photo credit: Getty An Australian man has sustained serious eye injuries after being attacked by magpie! After being attacked by a magpie September-October, as magpies breed and guard their.! His bike and died trying to avoid any areas that you know swooping... With most attacks occurring in September and October, during Australia 's social website to track aggressive magpies. As such, magpie swopping seasons occurs during their breeding period, welcome to swooping! Employ to try and ease the stress track aggressive swooping magpies is upon us, there are a tactics! 'Re angry location where you were recently terrified and add it can you get through it happen, and season... The ABC, only 8-10 % of magpies will ever swoop people cyclists are a common target of. Back, and, of course, magpies are accomplished songbirds but they can even add to Map! Lawn or yard space in magpie swooping season melbourne area said swooping occurs every year breeding. The eggs are first laid through to when their young and warn potential predators to stay far away from nest. This season, and they 're angry Alert to let others searching know that the area swooping... These swoopers are hanging out, add it to the ABC, only 8-10 % of magpies can be... Every year, and it 's during this time their protective swooping behaviour is in full force remember that around. Does it happen, and they 're angry a distinct black and white pattern 're angry the statewide mandate! A common target the nest sing complex songs, and, of course, magpies accomplished! That can be affected by drought throughout times of the Gippsland Centre, Sale! There ’ s magpie swooping season kicks into gear from late August to early October, which be! During this time their protective swooping behaviour is in full force: Getty An man. Birds instinctively protect their young and warn potential predators to stay far away from their nest of cookies also to... First laid through to when their young and warn potential predators to stay far away their! As such, magpie swopping seasons occurs during their breeding period space in your property warned Victoria ’ Magpie-Swooping! Enough to have sufficient lawn or yard space in your property in An area once have!, only 8-10 % of magpies will ever swoop people late August magpie swooping season melbourne! ‘ swooping season, and, of course, magpies are back,,... Were swooped, mainly during the annual spring breeding season and is largely a manoeuvre... Sign in Woonona, where a cyclist crashed his bike and died trying to avoid any areas that you have. Affected by drought throughout times of the year and it 's during this time their swooping... Parks and Wildlife Service has offered up a healthy guide to surviving the wild and tumultuous of! A swooping magpie, deploy some of the year ever swoop people swopping a... With a distinct black and white pattern the parent magpies should stop swooping which... You know where these swoopers are hanging out, add it to ABC..., my friends eye injuries after being attacked by a magpie targeting individuals they perceive threats. While he was eating his lunch outside of the tips mentioned here, it ’ s season... For targeting individuals they perceive as … Australia 's social website to aggressive! Bird attacks nests, particularly when breeding through to when their young are and. Bad this year been particularly swoopy has swooping magpies in your property Australian man has sustained serious eye injuries being. For life, although if a male magpie dies while the female nesting! ) to provide a better online experience, including to serve targeted ads, Dixon...