Top tips to avoid the swoop this spring

Spring is breeding season for many Australian native bird species. For birds raising young in nests, this can mean becoming highly protective of their territory and offspring. 

Swooping is a natural protective behaviour. Birds may swoop people or animals they perceive as potential threats to their young, with the behaviour generally lasting only a few weeks while chicks are in the nest. 

The most common culprit? The beloved Australian Magpie.  

“Magpies are truly amazing. They are among the top 20 most intelligent animals in the world and have unique, human-like personality traits. They are often labelled as aggressive and dangerous, but this is misguided.” Oscar Formoso, Wildlife Victoria Head of Emergency Response Service. 

Magpies often target the highest point of their perceived threat, which unfortunately for humans, can mean the head.  

“It’s never fun to be swooped but if it happens to you, try to keep in mind that these are parents protecting their young from a perceived threat and that protective parenting is an understandable and innate behaviour in many species.” said Formoso.  

Wildlife Victoria’s top tips to avoid the swoop:  

• Walk or cycle slowly in nesting areas. Runners and cyclists are more likely to be swooped because objects moving rapidly towards a nest can be perceived as a greater threat than those moving slowly. 

• Take an alternative route. The best way to avoid being swooped is to avoid known swooping locations during the breeding season.   

• Give nesting birds plenty of space. If you must pass an active nest, increase the distance between yourself and the nest where possible.   

• Be kind all year round. Magpies are highly intelligent and often remember faces and behaviours and may treat you accordingly.  

• Protect your head. When travelling through known nesting areas, wear a hat, helmet or use an umbrella to protect your head and face.  

• Never interfere with nests or birds. It is illegal under the Wildlife Act to remove or relocate healthy native wildlife or to destroy nests or eggs. Interfering with a nest can also increase defensive behaviour from swooping birds.  

Swooping birds can be recorded on the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action’s (DEECA) Swooping Birds’ Map.