Moorabool News The
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Tuesday 14 September, 2021
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Vol 15 No 36
We’re back!
A magpie ready to protect. Photo – Bernie McRitchie
There are many signs spring is just around the corner, warmer weather, blossom appears on trees, and garden bulbs bloom. But there is one more sure sign, magpies. The black and white feathered birds are a popular sight around Moorabool, but spring can be a dangerous time for bike riders and walkers as what is now known as ‘swooping season’, begins. Amanda Ashton is DELWP Senior Wildlife Management Officer and said whilst less than 10 per cent of swooping birds actually swoop, you should have a plan of action if you’re worried. “A small number of birds will swoop at this time of year. They do this to protect their eggs and young – we are all protective of our families,” she said. “Swooping by a territorial bird is actually normal bird behaviour, although it’s definitely not fun for their targets. Birds may swoop people or animals, so be mindful of pets too.” Native birds, such as magpies and masked lapwings, swoop as a method to defend their young for the 6-8 weeks between when they hatch and when they leave the nest. Ms Ashton said swooping is essentially a scare tactic to warn people and animals not to come near the nesting young. “It’s very important not to do anything to threaten the swooping birds – or interfere with their nests – or to feed them, and to remember that they’re simply protecting their young.” When birds swoop, they rarely make actual contact; and whilst it’s hard to understand this in the moment, as you hear swooshing sounds, screeching and beak clapping of the birds near you, it’s worth knowing that your reactions can help reduce any real harm. “The best way to avoid being swooped is to know your local hotspots and avoid the area altogether, although this is not always possible or practical,” Ms Ashton said. To plan your route around known swooping hotspots or to report a swooping incident by any species of bird, and mark its location on Victoria's interactive swooping bird map, visit www.wildlife.vic.gov.au and search swooping birds. Magpies and other native birds are protected in Victoria under the Wildlife Act 1975. Under the Act, it is an offence to kill, take, control or harm wildlife in Victoria. Penalties apply to those found in breach. Magpies usually breed between August and October every year, and it’s during this time that their protective swooping behaviour is in full force. The good news is that a single magpie will swoop for only about six weeks until their chicks are fledged and leave the nest, so magpie breeding season is usually all over by November.
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