Swooping Magpies

Magpies are protected throughout NSW and it is against the law to kill the birds, collect their eggs or harm their young. If you feel a magpie is a serious menace it should be reported to the nearest National Parks and Wildlife Service office.

For information on what precautions to take click this link.

About magpies

For most of the year magpies are not aggressive but for four to six weeks during nesting (August to October) they will often defend their territory vigorously. People walking past may be seen as ‘invaders’ of the territory, prompting the magpies to fly low and fast over the person, clacking their bills as they pass overhead.

The experience of a magpie attack can be quite alarming, but it is usually only a warning. Only occasionally will a bird actually strike the intruder on the head with its beak or claws. If this unusual behaviour persists, there are ways of reducing the risk of physical injury to humans.

How to respond if a magpie swoops at you 

• Walk quickly and carefully away from the area and avoid walking in the area when magpies are swooping.
• Make a temporary sign to warn other people.
• Try to keep an eye on the magpie while walking carefully away. Magpies are less likely to swoop if you look at them.
• Wear a bicycle or skateboard helmet.
• Carry an open umbrella, stick or small branch above your head but do not swing it at the magpie, as this will only provoke it to attack.
• If you are riding a bicycle, get off it and wheel it quickly through the area. Your bicycle helmet will protect your head.

Other tricks to avoid attack:

• draw or sew a pair of eyes onto the back of a hat, and wear it when walking through the area
• wear sunglasses on the back of your head
• make a temporary hat from an ice cream container or cardboard box
• attach a tall red safety flag to your bicycle