With the change of season and the current warm weather, this signals the start of magpie breeding season and residents are being urged to take care as magpies start swooping to protect their young.
During this period, magpie swooping is usually just to warn people who have entered their territory and will typically defend within 100 metres of their nest site.
There are several simple steps people can take to protect themselves against being swooped including avoiding the territory of a swooping magpie, be aware of where the bird is, keep calm and do not panic, dismount if you are on a bicycle or horse, never harass or provoke nesting birds and teach children what to do adding it’s important children learn to protect their face if being swooped.
Residents are also reminded that magpies are a protected species and it is an offence to harm them.
