Attack of the angry birds: SA’s magpie swooping hot spots revealed

Magpie-swooping season has taken off and it’s not even spring yet, with some terrified cyclists and pedestrians targeted by the same angry bird every year. See the areas to avoid.

Cyclists and pedestrians of South Australia be on alert – magpie swooping season is here.

As springtime nears, the behaviour of the territorial birds across the state has escalated as many become protective of their nests and young chicks.

There have already been 19 recorded magpie attacks in the past month, according to website magpiealert.com, with the majority recorded in Adelaide’s western and southern suburbs.

Notorious swooping hot spots from previous years have been reignited with multiple attacks recorded on Dutchman Drive at Hallett Cove, the corner of May St and Port Road at Albert Park, Collins Reserve at Kidman Park and along the tram line on Glengyle Tce, Glandore.

Magpie attacks across South Australia are mapped on magpiealert.com.

The majority of incidents have involved cyclists, however several pedestrians have been targeted as well, including a pedestrian who was injured while walking on Stonehouse Ave, Camden Park.

Salisbury resident Andrew Butterworth believes he has been targeted by the same magpie on his cycle to work for nearly four years.

“I ride my bike to work and knew they would be around but one day it just decided to smack me in the face,” Mr Butterworth said.

“The next time he smacked me on the other side of my face, actually cutting my ear lob.”

Mr Butterworth, who says his attacks occurred on Salisbury Football Oval, took action into his own hands, filming the magpies on his way to work.

Magpie season is here with a number of attacks already recorded. Picture: Liam Kidston

“Eventually you work out which tree they hang out in, as I would approach I would point to them so they knew that I knew that they were there, I don’t really know it helped,” Mr Butterworth laughed.

“I would out my phone behind my head just to see how close they would get to me, it’s pretty fascinating but boy does it hurt.”

Department for Environment and Water principal ecologist Dr Karl Hillyard said magpies usually breed between August and October, with females laying between three and five eggs and sitting on them for around three weeks until they hatch.

“Some male magpies defend their nests from the time the eggs are laid until the young birds are ready to fly, this is normally around four to five weeks after hatching, and they will attack anything they consider to be a threat, from another bird to a dog or a human,” Dr Hillyard said.

“Magpies are a very intelligent bird and have an excellent recall of faces and very long memories, so if you’ve been swooped before, or even if you just look like someone they swooped last year, you’re likely to get the same treatment again.

“They typically only defend their nests within about a 100-metre radius, so the best way to avoid getting swooped is to take a detour around known nest sites if you can.”

Australia-wide there have been 141 attacks recorded so far this season, with 15 resulting in injuries.

Dr Hillyard said emphasised the animals do not attack people on malicious grounds.

It’s just the natural instinct of some magpies to defend their young. It can be hard to remember this when you’re being swooped, though,” he said.

“Local councils often install signs in areas where swooping is regularly taking place, so keep a look out for them and try to avoid those places for a few weeks if you can.

“It is also best not to feed swooping magpies as this may only encourage swooping behaviour.”