about … Swooping Birds

Community Update August, 2017

The Rural City of Murray Bridge encourages people to acquaint themselves with the local wildlife. Council believes that an understanding of wildlife behaviour is the key to living harmoniously with native animals. These animals are part of our environment and we must all take responsibility for them.

The most common swooping bird around Murray Bridge is the Australian Magpie. Other swooping birds include the Masked Lapwing, Silver Gull, Australian Wood Duck Magpie Lark and the Noisy Miner. All of these birds swoop to protect their nests, young and territory.

If you experience a swooping Magpie:

• Avoid the nest area and take a slight detour as most birds will only swoop within a 50 metre range of their nest

• Wear a broad-brimmed hat. Magpies do not like to be watched so try sticking “eyes” on the back of your hat

• Wear glasses to protect your eyes

• Travel in a group, swooping birds generally target individuals

• Walk quickly away from the area, do not run; and

• Carry an open umbrella, stick or small branch above your head, do not wave or threaten the Magpie as this will only aggravate the situation

about … Swooping Birds

If you are riding a bike or a skateboard when a magpie swoops:

• Get off your bike or skateboard

• Wheel your bike or carry your skateboard and walk quickly away from the area, do not run

• Use your bike / skateboard as a shield to protect yourself, your helmet will protect your head and

• Try sticking “eyes” on the back of your helmet or adding two plastic cable ties (approx. 300mm length) to the front of your helmet and place another two cable ties (approx. 150mm) to the helmet over the ears.

Only a very small number of birds from the total local population show any aggression towards humans during their breeding season.

Council or the Department for Environment, Water and Natural Resources do not assume responsibility for swooping bird incidents that occur on land not owned or managed by them. If you feel that a swooping bird is a serious threat to human safety it should first be reported to the owner/occupier of the land upon which the threat exists.

Some Magpies are aggressive and Council prefers to place signs to warn people of their presence allowing people time to adjust their habits and follow the recommendations above. Once Magpies begin swooping they generally take approximately two months before they move on.

Further Information If you require further information regarding this project, please contact Council’s Community Biodiversity Officer Mr Glenn Dean on (08) 8539 1167 or by email [email protected] Alternatively further information relating swooping birds including Magpie, Masked Lapwing, Noisy Minor and other swooping birds is available from: http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/managing-natural-resources/plants-and- animals/Living_with_wildlife/Swooping_birds?BestBetMatch=swooping birds|720cd45f- 5fec-4627-9f29-24303b5b894c|1771538a-419d-4c71-bd57-9e0e00fd8c25 Regards

Simon Bradley General Manager, Infrastructure and Environment