Watch out for swooping birds

THE Geelong communitys are being encouraged to keep an eye out for swooping birds with breeding season now under way.

Many native birds such as magpies and masked lapwings will seek to protect their eggs and young at this time of year by swooping in outdoor areas.

People can minimise their risk by avoiding nesting areas and protecting the head and eyes.

Cr Elise Wilkinson, deputy chair of the City of Greater Geelong’s environment and circular economy portfolio, encouraged people to exercise caution and calm throughout the spring period.

“Native birds are an important part of our natural environment and are rightly afforded legal protection,” she said.

“We should all be aware of potential swooping risks and prepared to modify our behaviour outdoors when needed.

“By doing simple things, we can reduce our chances of being swooped.”

Breeding season for native birds is expected to continue until the middle

of November.

The Victorian government’s Swooping Bird Map shows hot spots where people have been swooped during the current or previous breeding season.

To see the map and report swooping locations, head to wildlife.vic.gov.au/managing-wildlife/swooping-birds