The secret art of keeping swooping magpies away

And it doesn't involve tying cables tie to your hat.

WATCH OUT: It's magpie nesting season.

ONE dedicated environmentalist has written to the QT to educate the be-swooped public about magpies, this spring.

She said, a simple squirt of cooking oil will keep them off your back, and they learn quickly not to do it again.

SEE IPSWICH'S MAGPIE SWOOPING MAP

"TO STOP swooping magpies, use a water pistol full of cooking oil or a spray can of cooking oil, and give them a good spray," Gil May wrote.

"They do not like oil on their feathers and do a lot of grooming afterwards, they learn quickly.

"These beautiful birds mate for life and if one of them is killed the other one never takes a new mate.

"The magpies are only doing what nature intended that all parents do - looking after their babies."

GIL MAY

Forestdale

All we can say is bless you Gil May, and thank you for your tip.