Swooping bird breeding season is in full swing and residents are urged to take precautions when outdoors.
The breeding season for most swooping birds – including magpies, plovers, crows and butcherbirds – is July to November, peaking between August to October.
Nesting birds are protective of their eggs and chicks, and some will swoop to scare away threats entering their nesting territory, usually within 100 metres.
Swooping will last until the chicks leave the nest, which is usually six to eight weeks.
There has already been 11 swoopings reported in Rockhampton and Livingstone on the Magpie Alert website,
All swooping birds found in Central Queensland are native animals, and it is an offence to harm, interfere or relocate them without state department authorisation.
The best way to avoid being swooped is to:
- Avoid swooping hotspots by finding an alternative route
- If you are riding a bike or e-scooter, dismount and walk when passing through a swooping zone
- Protect yourself by wearing a broad-brimmed hat or using an umbrella, or holding your school bag above your head
- Keep your eyes on the bird, as they are less likely to swoop when being watched
- Wear glasses or sunglasses to protect your eyes
- Team up with others and walk in a group
- Avoid threatening or scaring nesting birds, as this will increase the intensity of swooping.
