It's magpie swooping season here in Brisbane. You see, magpies are fiercely protective of their nests, and it being Spring down here in Earth's Southern Hemisphere, magpies are having babies.
There is one just down the road from us, and it has swooped me and Merlin (my dog) on a few occasions already. S/he is the one pictured.
When you approach their nests, magpies launch themselves in the air and attack, using their beaks to peck the head as the swoop past.
And it hurts. They can draw blood. In unfortunate events they have been known to cause the accidents which have killed people (by forcing someone onto a road into the path of oncoming traffic or suchlike).
Our local government has the following helpful advice on its website, and on signs posted near the offending bird's nest:
- avoid areas where these birds are nesting during the breeding season
- if you are swooped, leave the area as quickly as possible but do not run
- wear a hat or carry an umbrella
- wear glasses to protect your eyes
- do not interfere with the birds or their nest as this may increase swooping behaviour
- watch the birds while walking away quickly - it is less likely to swoop if it knows you're watching
- never harass or provoke birds as this makes them more defensive and may lead to a worse attack next time
- do not touch a young bird.
But I say there's an easier solution.
Pay the bird.
Photos by @DrWom
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