Swooping Magpies a Menace to Melbournians
- 13 years ago
And next up, Melbournians are being warned to watch out for swooping birds as they protect their nests this spring season. The magpie - of the avian variety is ready to peck anyone who steers near. This report from our local bureau in Australia.
Spring is in the air and so is the army of avian air raiders.
Distinguished by a complex array of vocalizations, the magpie is busy heralding the arrival of spring.
Nesting high above the roof top suburbs that make up Melbourne city, the Eucalyptus is their preferred tree during nesting season.
[Mark, Local Cyclist]:
“They are very territorial just in this little area here, so they must have a nest somewhere but I haven’t found it yet.”
Jokingly referred to as black and white feathered missiles, these territorial magpies are not scared to swoop up to 50 meters in a bid to protect their eggs and young.
But it’s not only cats and koalas that are the enemy but cyclists too.
To avoid attacks, cyclists have been warned to arm themselves with sticks, umbrellas and protective head gear.
[Rob, Local Resident]:
“He doesn’t wait in the tree all the time. Sometimes he’ll will wait at the base of it and then have a go at him.”
Most of the time, the magpies just swoop from behind to intimidate, but in more serious cases hospital admissions are necessary with injuries ranging from fractures and cuts to eye damage.
According to the Australian Geographic some 85% of Australians have had a brush of fate with these protective parents.
In the future more warning signs will be placed in areas where birds are known to swoop, and cyclists are advised to walk their bikes.
Some residents have suggested more extreme measures in dealing with the problem, but with the birds being native they are protected under the Wildlife Act.
So with the breeding season stretching five months of the year, it seems there are few options other than having to live with our so called ‘feather friends.’
NTD, Melbourne, Australia.
Spring is in the air and so is the army of avian air raiders.
Distinguished by a complex array of vocalizations, the magpie is busy heralding the arrival of spring.
Nesting high above the roof top suburbs that make up Melbourne city, the Eucalyptus is their preferred tree during nesting season.
[Mark, Local Cyclist]:
“They are very territorial just in this little area here, so they must have a nest somewhere but I haven’t found it yet.”
Jokingly referred to as black and white feathered missiles, these territorial magpies are not scared to swoop up to 50 meters in a bid to protect their eggs and young.
But it’s not only cats and koalas that are the enemy but cyclists too.
To avoid attacks, cyclists have been warned to arm themselves with sticks, umbrellas and protective head gear.
[Rob, Local Resident]:
“He doesn’t wait in the tree all the time. Sometimes he’ll will wait at the base of it and then have a go at him.”
Most of the time, the magpies just swoop from behind to intimidate, but in more serious cases hospital admissions are necessary with injuries ranging from fractures and cuts to eye damage.
According to the Australian Geographic some 85% of Australians have had a brush of fate with these protective parents.
In the future more warning signs will be placed in areas where birds are known to swoop, and cyclists are advised to walk their bikes.
Some residents have suggested more extreme measures in dealing with the problem, but with the birds being native they are protected under the Wildlife Act.
So with the breeding season stretching five months of the year, it seems there are few options other than having to live with our so called ‘feather friends.’
NTD, Melbourne, Australia.