Swooping season prompts vigilance warning

BREEDING season for swooping native birds is underway and locals are being advised to take extra precautions when outdoors.

From now until the middle of November, many native birds, such as magpies and masked lapwings, will protect their eggs, leading to increases in swooping in both urban and rural areas.

Residents can minimise the risk of being swooped by avoiding nesting areas, protecting their head and eyes and quickly moving through areas with native birds.

While swooping birds can be alarming, the behaviour is said to be confined to only 10 per cent of birds, and it’s rare for a bird to cause injury.

The city’s Environmental and Circular Economy portfolio chair Cr Peter Murrihy said residents should be prepared to modify their behaviour during this period.

“Native birds are a vital feature of our natural environment and are rightly afforded legal protection,” Cr Murrihy said.

“Residents can use some simple measures, like protecting your head and either avoiding or moving through a breeding area quickly, to minimise the chances of being swooped.”

All native birds are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975 and locals are urged not to harm or scare swooping birds or interfere with their nests.

To report a bird swooping on council land, contact 5272 5272.

Warning signs will be issued at the site and behaviour of the bird will be assessed.