Magpies swoop to protect eggs and young from attack during the nesting season from August to October. They rely largely on intimidation to deter human intruders by flying low and fast, often clacking their beaks as they pass overhead. The sound of their wings whistling past and the movement of air can be alarming. But, by confidently continuing on your way, the bird will often retreat to the safety of a tree and watch you until you leave the territory.

Like dogs, Magpies seem to sense fear and may capitilise on this by pressing on with the attack. A threatening gesture with a hat, stick or umbrella will usually make the bird retreat. Occasionally, a Magpie will actually strike an intruder on the head with its beak, but such strikes are rare. The birds only attack during the relatively short period of the nesting season, and for the majority of birds it is only bluff.

However, Magpies can inflict serious injuries. Information  collected at hospital emergency departments have shown that of 59 attacks, the eye was the most common target. Nearly half those attacked were riding bicycles at the time. Nearly two thirds of those injured were male and half were 10-30 years of age.

Research at Griffith University has shown that despite the bad experience, 90% of those injured did not want the Magpie destroyed. If we can understand the catalysts for the attack and the patterns of Magpie behaviour, we can greatly reduce the risk.

Studies have shown that only about 12% of male Magpies will attack people. Of these about half attack pedestrians, 10% exclusively attack postal delivery workers, 8% attack cyclists and the remaining third will attack any of these.

Reducing the risk

If you have problems with swooping Magpies, several avenues of action are open to you. Keep in mind that the birds only attack during the nesting and rearing period (from August to October), that most of the supposed attacks are really bluff and that the bird rarely has any intention of actually striking.

Never provoke a Magpie by drawing attention to yourself or throwing stones, because Magpies have a good memory and may continuously attack a potential aggressor. If the bird is in an area on the way to and from school or work, it would be a good idea to use a different route during the short period the Magpie is aggressive.

Living Safely with Magpies

The following steps can be followed to avoid or reduce the impact of a swooping Magpie

>Never deliberately provoke or harass a magpie. Throwing sticks or stones usually makes them more defensive.
>Avoid areas where Magpies are known to swoop. Remember, Magpie aggression lasts only a few weeks and Magpies usually only defend area of about 100m in radius around their nest.
>Locate the bird and keep watching it when entering Magpie territory. If it swoops, don't crouch in fear or stop : move on quickly but don't run.
>If you are riding a bike dismount and walk through nesting Magpie territory, wear a helmet and fit an orange traffic flag to the bike.
>Wear a hat and sunglasses or carry a stick or umbrella to protect yourself. A Magpie will attack from behind initially. When a Magpie is tricked into believing the target is alert, the attack may stop or may not even get started.
>Adopt a confident stance towards the bird as this can have a strong deterrent effect. This response is most commonly used by adults but can easily be taught to children.

Learning to live with Magpies can be rewarding. You can observe local Magpies, study their behaviour and listen to their songs. We share the same living space. Learning to live together is an important step towards building a better living environment.

Taking a bird or nest from the wild is illegal without a permit and while such actions may temporarily stop attacks, it is not uncommon for the nest to be re-built immediately and the problem starts all over again. Often, it is better to avoid the area or live with the swooping birds for six to eight weeks until the chicks are learning to fly and the problem ceases.

Information courtesy: 
Department of Environment and Conservation