With spring arriving, residents in the northern suburbs are being reminded that some native birds such as magpies and plovers may swoop during their breeding season.
A Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) spokesperson said every spring, some native birds swoop to defend their eggs and young for a short time while their young
are most vulnerable.
“While swooping is unsettling, it’s normal behaviour for a range of native birds,“ they said.
“Swooping is a warning to people and animals not to come near their young. It’s rare for birds to make contact.”
Native birds swoop in urban and rural areas, parks and gardens, along bike tracks or anywhere that birds are nesting.
“Not all birds swoop during the breeding season, so don’t be concerned simply because there are magpies or other common swooping birds in the area,” they said.
“Remember, the swooping behaviour will only last for a few weeks, normally stopping soon after the young leave the nest.”
If you are worried about being caught out by a protective bird this spring, DEECA recommends you know your local swooping hotspots and avoid the area, move quickly but do not run, wear protective head and eye coverings, don’t harass birds, don’t feed birds and do not destroy their nests.
You can also plan your route around known swooping hotspots and report a swooping incident on Victoria’s interactive swooping bird map.
All Victorian native wildlife is protected by law, and it is illegal to harass or harm native birds and other wildlife without authorisation.
You can report wildlife crime such as harassing, harming or disturbing wildlife to Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000.
Details: www.wildlife.vic.gov.au/managing-wildlife/swooping-birds
