Thursday, August 24, 2023

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Stay Safe This Magpie Season

As we rapidly approach the peak of magpie season, Mackay Regional Council is reminding residents that we share our parklands and reserves with many native bird species, including a small number that display aggressive behaviour at nesting time.

A study has shown that only nine per cent of magpies are aggressive towards people and this small proportion of magpies usually swoop between July and November.

Earlier this month, a five-year-old attending a birthday party in Mulherin Park was swooped upon by a magpie causing scratches to her face and head, highlighting the importance of magpie awareness.

A magpie will usually only defend the area within 110m to 150m of its nest, called its ‘defence zone’.

Some top tips for staying safe while outdoors include:

• wear a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses or shelter under an umbrella to protect your face from swooping magpies (painting or sticking large ‘eyes’ on the back of your hat can also deter magpies—but this won’t work for cyclists)

• if a magpie swoops while you are cycling, it will probably stop swooping if you get off your bike and walk

• avoid “defence zones” by taking alternative routes during the breeding season

• if you must enter a “defence zone”, magpies will be less likely to swoop if they are watched constantly, or if people walk in a close group

• waving sticks or umbrellas in the air or attaching a brightly coloured flag on a long pole to your bicycle can stop magpies from swooping.

Magpies are only defending their families, so make sure to be magpie-friendly and don’t fight back.

Throwing sticks and stones or yelling at a magpie are likely to make it more aggressive next time anyone enters the defence zone around their nest.

Residents are encouraged to report any concerns they have about swooping birds in council parks or reserves so that council can provide information on how to avoid being swooped and look to place warning signs in the location.

There is also a community-run website, www.magpiealert.com, where residents can provide and receive alerts about swooping magpies Australia-wide that’s well worth checking out.

In other news