Magpie swooping season what you need to know: Spring brings protective parent behaviour as magpies defend their young across the country

Spring has arrived across Australia, and with it comes one of the country's most talked-about seasonal phenomena: magpie swooping season. As these intelligent black and white birds enter their breeding period, some become fierce protectors of their nests and young.

Magpie swooping season typically runs from August to November, with peak activity occurring in September and October. However, the behaviour isn't random aggression – it's calculated parental protection.

Only between 10 and 20 per cent of magpies actually engage in swooping behaviour, and approximately 90 per cent of male magpies won't swoop, while females typically don't swoop at all. This means the vast majority of magpies you encounter will leave you alone.

• Breeding season lasts from August to November but can vary by location
• Swooping typically occurs within 50 metres of the nest for pedestrians, 100 metres for cyclists
• Most swooping incidents involve near misses with beak clicking rather than actual contact
• The defensive behaviour lasts 6-8 weeks while chicks are in the nest and learning to fly

During nesting season, females lay three to five eggs and incubate them for about three weeks.

It takes about four weeks for hatchlings to fledge and leave the nest.

During this vulnerable period, parent magpies – predominantly males – become highly protective.

To magpies, the faster you're moving, the greater the perceived threat, which is why cyclists, joggers and dog walkers are common targets.

The birds are responding to what they perceive as potential predators approaching their offspring.

Australian magpies are remarkably intelligent birds.

Research has shown that magpies can recognise at least 100 different people, and may be less likely to swoop individuals they have befriended.

They can associate faces and body types with previous experiences, sometimes targeting specific demographics of people.

This intelligence works both ways – how you engage with magpies year-round will influence whether you'll be targeted during swooping season, as they remember your face and behaviour.

Swooping season usually begins first in northern parts of Australia and moves progressively southwards. Records in south-eastern Queensland and northern NSW typically start in July and August, while southern Victoria peaks in September.

Interestingly, magpies rarely swoop people in Tasmania, though the reason for their more relaxed attitude is unknown.

Safety Strategies include:

Avoiding the Area:

• Check the community website Magpie Alert (magpiealert.com) to identify swooping hotspots in your area
• If possible, avoid areas with known nesting magpies for about a month while chicks are in the nest

Protect Yourself:

• Wear sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat or helmet
• Carry an umbrella above your head – this makes you appear larger and can deter swooping
• Try drawing eyes on the back of your head or helmet, as birds are less likely to attack if they think you're watching them

For Cyclists:

• Get off your bike and walk through swooping areas – this reduces the perceived threat level
• Attach cable ties to your helmet or a flag to your bike to help direct swooping birds away from your face

Group Safety:

• Travel in groups when possible – magpies are less likely to swoop multiple people

If You're Swooped:

• Stay calm and avoid sudden movements
• Move quickly and safely out of the area without trying to scare or fight the bird
• Don't wave your arms or shout, as this increases the perceived threat

Magpies aren't the only native birds that swoop – butcher birds, plovers (lapwings), red wattlebirds, and laughing kookaburras also engage in this behaviour during their respective breeding seasons.

While most swooping encounters result in harmless near-misses, injuries can occur. Injuries range from head pecks to eye injuries, and there have been tragic cases where people have fallen and suffered fatal head injuries after being startled by swooping birds.

Some people report success in reducing swooping risk by feeding magpies regularly, as this makes humans appear less threatening to nesting birds. However, this approach hasn't been systematically studied.

Being slow, mindful and gentle in your interactions with these intelligent animals year-round is key to living harmoniously with them.

Magpies are protected throughout Australia, so it's illegal to kill or harm them. However, some states provide exceptions for particularly aggressive birds that attack humans, though relocation is more common than removal.

The Magpie Alert website (magpiealert.com) is a free, community-sourced platform that tracks aggressive swooping incidents across Australia. Users can check for swooping hotspots and report their own encounters to help protect others.

Remember, swooping season is temporary – usually lasting just 4-6 weeks while magpie parents are protecting their most vulnerable young. By understanding their behaviour and taking appropriate precautions, we can safely share our environment with these remarkable native birds.