It’s magpie attack time and the birds with a beautiful flute-like song join plovers as public enemy number one in spring, if only for a short time.
The menace of plovers – also called masked lapwings – were the subject of the column last week and now I turn my attention to a far more dangerous threat, magpies.
As I reported, plovers are all bluster when they dive-bomb people near their nesting sites and rarely come into contact with the unsuspecting target.
Magpies, on the other hand, come armed with a sharp-tipped beak which is capable of inflicting a painful wound.
Spring of course, when the days gradually begin to grow longer and the weather warms up, is the time birds begin to build their nests and lay their eggs, including the magpies.
The breeding magpies start to swoop at passers-by, both on foot or riding bicycles, as well as dogs and anything else that moves.
Magpies as a whole get a bad press for unsocial behaviour at this time of year but it should be noted that not all magpies swoop at people. It is generally quite a small proportion of them that are aggressive towards humans. Most of the birds that attack are males, although, most male magpies are not aggressive, and those that show a mean streak only become aggressive when people venture too close to the nest tree.
Most swooping activity occurs in mid-to-late spring, during the brief period when there are magpie chicks in the nest, with the intensity of attacks increasing gradually as the nestlings grow. Few magpies attack before their eggs have hatched, and the attacks usually drop off after the chicks have left the nest. It’s a brief window, but one that can be traumatic for people being swooped on.
There are a few things you can do to prevent being attacked, but nothing is guaranteed to work.
The most sensible method is to avoid walking or riding near trees where magpies are nesting, one notorious area being a stretch of Clarence Avenue in Howrah which in past years has been the home of a particularly aggressive magpie.
If you can’t avoid a problem area, try wearing a hat or carrying an umbrella for protection; cyclists can attach a forest of cable-ties to their helmets. It also helps to attach or paint spots resembling eyes on a hat or helmet. The “face” seems to make magpies think twice about attacking. People on foot can also wave a stick for protection. Keep an eye on the bird; he’s much less likely to attack if he knows he’s been sussed. Above all, don’t harass the birds. Though tempting, it will only make them more aggressive.
Despite their apparent belligerence, magpies remain one of Australia’s most loved bird. The song is symbolic of both suburb and bush, and they are birds that can be considered truly Australian – the only other place they are found is New Zealand, where they have been introduced.