{"id":120556,"date":"2025-09-15T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-14T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/geelongtimes\/?p=120556"},"modified":"2025-09-10T21:27:24","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T11:27:24","slug":"swooping-season-swoops-in-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/geelongtimes\/news\/swooping-season-swoops-in-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Swooping season swoops in again"},"content":{"rendered":"

AS THE weather gets warmer and the days longer, Victorians will also start to see the occasional swooping bird.<\/p>\n

Native birds enter their breeding season in spring, and some may get protective of their young.<\/p>\n

“Swooping is a normal, temporary behaviour for native birds like magpies, butcherbirds and masked lapwings to defend their eggs and chicks for a short time while their young are most vulnerable,” Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) statewide wildlife advisory services manager Lachlan Clarke said.<\/p>\n

“Think of it as a warning sign. They’re telling you to keep your distance. While it can be a bit unsettling, it’s rare for them to make contact.”<\/p>\n

Swooping can occur in both urban and rural areas, including parks, gardens, and along bike paths.<\/p>\n

“Not all birds swoop during the breeding season, so the presence of magpies or other common swooping birds does not necessarily mean you will be swooped,” Mr Clarke said.<\/p>\n

This behaviour only lasts a short time, usually ending once the young have left the nest.<\/p>\n

If you are worried about being caught out by a protective bird this spring, DEECA suggests taking these steps to feel safe, while also protecting our native birds:<\/p>\n