{"id":11537,"date":"2022-09-08T08:00:24","date_gmt":"2022-09-07T22:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/themooraboolnews.com.au\/?p=11537"},"modified":"2024-02-02T21:31:41","modified_gmt":"2024-02-02T10:31:41","slug":"be-prepared-not-scared","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/themooraboolnews\/news\/be-prepared-not-scared\/","title":{"rendered":"Be prepared, not scared"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spring means blossom, flowering plants and more sunshine however, it also means native birds such as magpies and masked lapwings may begin swooping during their breeding season – but there are steps we can take to remain safe at this time.<\/p>\n

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) Senior Wildlife Projects Officer, Belinda Cant, said some native birds swoop to defend their eggs and young for the six to eight weeks until they leave the nest.<\/p>\n

\u201cSwooping can catch us by surprise, but it is normal behaviour for some territorial birds,\u201d Ms Cant said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSwooping is basically a scare tactic to warn people and animals not to come near their nesting young. Birds may swoop people or animals, so be mindful of your dogs too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms Cant said not all birds swoop to protect their eggs and young during the breeding season.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo don’t be concerned simply because there are magpies or other common swooping birds in the area.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring this time of year less than 10 per cent of birds from just a few species will swoop and even fewer make contact.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you are worried about being swooped, you can do a few things to protect yourself.<\/p>\n

Tips to avoid being swooped: <\/strong><\/p>\n