FACT SHEET

Remember, native animals are part of our Swooping environment and are a shared responsibility. Birds Common swooping birds and why they swoop During their breeding season species such as the How we can learn to live with Australian Magpie, Magpie-larks and Masked them Lapwings are protective parents and instinctively protect their territory, nest and young. Some nesting birds may swoop some people that get Cities, suburbs and towns are not only places for too close too their nest. humans. Our backyard and gardens, local parks, school yards, sporting fields, farms, golf Not all birds become aggressive and only very courses, beaches and street trees provide native few birds from the total population will show any birds with places to sleep and shelter, along with aggression towards humans. It is important to an abundance and diversity of food. Some note that only a few birds that have become species of birds have become adept at surviving aggressive have actually attacked humans. and breeding in these highly modified Swooping is their most common way of scaring environments. off intruders (whether it is humans or other animals). Some birds build nests up high in street trees along busy roads while other species build nests Noisy Miners and wattlebirds will swoop to on the ground in open areas such as airfields defend their territory all year round. and school ovals (more often than not in inconvenient places!). Competing for food, Silver Gulls, ravens, Australian Pelicans and water, refuge and breeding sites can place Laughing Kookaburras will swoop to scavenge some species in conflict situations with other bird food. When these species become species and with humans. Some nesting birds accustomed to food handouts some animals living in close proximity to humans will swoop can become assertive and persistent and may some people that get too close to their nest. inflict accidental injury during their attempts to Some birds may also swoop to scavenge food. snatch food. Camping areas, picnic areas in National Parks and reserves, outdoor dining The Department of Environment and Natural areas and beaches are typical places where Resources (DENR) believes the type and quality these behaviours may be seen. of interactions people have with their local wildlife is important. DENR’s “Living with Wildlife” philosophy aims to foster an understanding of wildlife behaviour and promote positive attitudes towards wildlife.

www.environment.sa.gov.au SPECIES ThAT INSTINCTIvELY PrOTECT ThEIr TErrITOrY, NEST AND YOUNG DUrING ThEIr BrEEDING SEASON

Where do they live? When is their Where do they build How many How long do they How do they behave during Species defence Strategies that may work to avoid being swooped breeding their nest? eggs do sit on their eggs? their breeding season? strategy towards season? they lay? people

Mainly live in open habitats. Usually August In upright forks of gum Usually 3-5 20 days Family groups defend Swooping • Avoid the nest area and take a slight detour. Occur in natural areas, trees towards the outer eggs their area strongly at people (Most birds will only swoop within a 50 metre range of their nest). to October The young birds cleared farming areas, canopy of the tree. against other magpies, from behind. • Wear a broad-brimmed hat. fledge about country towns, suburbs and to protect food resources Swooping may (Magpies do not like to be watched. Try sticking “eyes” on the Sometimes nest on 30-38 days cities, parks and gardens, and nest sites. Males most include striking back of your hat). artificial structures (e.g. after hatching, bushland remnants, street often defend flock and the persons head • Wear glasses to protect your eyes. electrical transformers, depending on trees and other open territory. or clipping their • Travel in a group (swooping birds generally target individuals). stobie (power) poles, the quality of spaces such as sporting ear. • Walk quickly away from the area. Do not run. roofs of buildings). natural protein The female magpie fields and golf courses. • Carry an open umbrella above your head. rich food builds the nest herself May hover If you are riding a bike or a skateboard when a magpie swoops available. and sits on the eggs. above the head • Get off your bike or skateboard. for a prolonged Males will swoop • Wheel your bike or carry your skateboard and walk quickly period, aggressively to defend away from the area. Do not run. attempting to nest. • Use you bike / skateboard as a shield to protect yourself. attack the head (NB. Your bike / skateboard helmet will protect your head). and face. 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 AUSTrALIAN another two cable ties (approx. 150mm) to the helmet over the ears. MAGPIE Place warning signs outside of the swooping area to warn others. Widespread and common Breeding is Usually built on bare 3-5 eggs 17-19 days Birds aggressively defend Generally Some Magpie-larks will attack their reflections in windows and in natural areas with trees opportunistic, horizontal branch, their permanent territories attacks from external side-view mirrors on cars. It is thought this obsessive The young birds and open grassland, in usually from usually placed away throughout the year. Birds the front flying behaviour causes distress, particularly during their breeding season. fledge about urban areas and farming August to from the tree trunk aggressively defend nest upwards from In addition to the suggested strategies for Australian Magpies three weeks after land. Almost always February towards end of branch. during breeding season. the ground, (above) hatching. seen near water. Mostly towards a They choose nest- Magpie-larks attack their At home a ground-dwelling bird, persons head building locations with own reflection in windows • Prevent access by Magpie-larks to window ledges. usually seen searching and face. access to water and and side mirrors of cars. • Eliminate reflections by temporarily covering windows for food (insects) on the mud. affected by Magpie-lark tapping. Note: Attacks from this ground. • Place a car cover over your vehicle. species are less common; however people have Car (away from home) reportedly been seriously • Place cloth bags over the external side-view mirrors while injured by this species. the vehicle is parked. In public areas, avoid the area and take a slight detour. In public areas place warning signs near the affected area to warn others. MAGPIE LArK Prefer open short-grassed May breed at In small hollow scrapes 3-4 eggs 28 - 30 days Both male and female Beak clacking • Avoid the nest area and take a slight detour. areas, usually near water. anytime when on bare ground or build the nest together. and a rapid call • Carry an open umbrella above your head. Young usually Found in a wide range of conditions are on top of flat roofed sounding like • Use bunting flag and fence off an exclusion area. fledge at 6-7 The breeding pair is loud man-made environments suitable. buildings. “Kerk, Kerk, Kerk, weeks after and aggressive both In situations where Masked Lapwings are nesting on a flat roof (e.g. school ovals, on top Kerk”. Usually July to hatching, but before eggs are laid and swooping at people below, consider erecting a shade sail (or of buildings with flat roofs, November remain with their and after the eggs have Extend wing equivalent) to provide a protective barrier between the birds and grassy median strips along parents until they hatched. They swoop outwards and people and possibly obstruct the birds view of the people below. busy roads, sporting fields, are about ten aggressively at people display their Place warning signs as close as practicable to the nest area to warn airfields). months old. and animals to defend sharp yellow others. nest, at times striking with spurs. wing spurs. Adults even Generally behave as though they attacks by flying have a broken wing in an upwards from attempt to lure “intruders” the ground. away from the nest.

Photo credits. Cover page: Australian Magpie (Brian Furby); centre page: Australian MASKED Magpie (Fiona Fuhlbohm), Magpie-lark (Brian Furby), Masked Lapwing (Brian Furby); LAPWING back page: Australian Magpie (Fiona Fuhlbohm), Noisy Miner (Brian Furby).

80067-A3 Swooping Birds Info she1 1 25/6/08 4:46:51 PM

FACT SHEET

Do not have failed a Permit to Destroy Wildlife may be obtained by the landholder.  remove/destroy nests: Birds may re-nest which will extend the breeding season. Remember  remove eggs/chicks: Birds may re-nest which will extend the breeding season.  It is natural for birds to protect their territory,  rescue “helpless” fledgling birds found on the nest and young from predators or intruders, ground: Magpies perceive this as predation. particularly during their breeding season.  harass birds: Harassment will only increase the  Swooping is the most common way of scaring birds stress levels and may result in a more off intruders (humans or other animals). fierce attack next time around. Harassment  Only a very small number of birds from the of wildlife is also against the law. total local population show any aggression  feed birds: Feeding birds can make them towards humans during their breeding dependent on an artificial food source and season. Only a few birds that have become contribute to increased competition and aggressive have actually attacked humans. territoriality between family groups and other  Native animals are part of our environment species which can result in increased stress. and are a shared responsibility.

Australian Magpies and the law DENR does not assume responsibility for swooping bird incidents that occur on land not In South Australia, Australian Magpies are a managed by DENR. If you feel that a swooping protected species under the National Parks and bird is a serious threat to human safety it should Wildlife Act 1972. In circumstances where an in the first instance be reported to the Australian Magpie has attacked or is attacking owner/occupier of the land upon which the any person, it is lawful for any person without any threat exists. permit or other authority under the NPW Act, to kill the offending bird (refer Section 54 NPW Act). Further reading

Any person planning to kill an offending Jones, Darryl N. (2002) Magpie alert: learning to Australian Magpie must seek approval from the live with a wild neighbour, University of New local Police to use a firearm in a built up area South Wales Press Ltd, Sydney. prior to undertaking the destruction. There is also a requirement to comply with animal Allen, Pamela (1996) Waddle Giggle Gargle! welfare legislation and the Code of Practice for Penguin Books Ltd. the Humane Destruction of Birds by Shooting in Disclaimer South Australia. This information is based on knowledge and technology available at the time of publication and may need to be varied in the light of new knowledge. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the contents of this Other swooping birds and the law publication are factually correct, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources makes no representations and accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fitness for any particular purpose of the contents, and Most native birds are protected in South shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents Australia. If you feel that a swooping bird is a of this publication. Reference to any company, product serious threat to human safety and it can be or service in this publication should not be taken as a department endorsement of the company, product or demonstrated that all avoidance strategies service.

www.environment.sa.gov.au