Community News

The magpie will only attack when protecting their nest, eggs or young from potential threats, especially during nesting time in October and November.

As native birds, magpies are a fully protected species so we should try to respect their needs.

Nests can be located in your garden, a park or the schoolyard. Magpies prefer a broad area of short grass with scattered tall trees for nesting and a nearby source of water.

If a magpie feels threatened, it can attack by swooping, or hovering around you and clacking its beak. Most of this behaviour is a form of a bluff, designed to scare, and the bird rarely intends to actually strike.

In a strike attack, a magpie usually swoops, hovering momentarily and then strikes. The fluttering of wings as the bird hovers can be a warning to duck and avoid an attack.

Avoiding magpie attacks

You can help to avoid a magpie attack by following these steps:

• do not interfere with, or destroy, eggs or nests
• try to stop children and others interfering with magpies
• wear a hat while working or playing in the backyard and garden to deter magpies and protect you from a strike by the bird
• watch the magpie, or pretend to watch it by painting eyes on your hat, or by wearing sunglasses backwards
• wave a stick or hat to cause the magpie to retreat
• stand your ground after being swooped and glare at the bird confidently to make it retreat to a nearby tree (this action is not recommended for children)
• avoid showing your fear as magpies can sense it and will continue to attack            Click on this link/text for more  information and pictures