Report finds magpie warning signs were ‘not close enough’ to Glindemann Park swooping site

More could have been done to warn visitors of the possible threat from magpies at the park where baby Mia died in a freak swooping incident, a report has found. And now, Brisbane City Council has pledged to take action.

The park where a baby girl died in a freak magpie incident did not have adequate signage, an investigation has found.

Brisbane City Council on Tuesday pledged new guidelines to protect the community from dangerous magpies following recommendations from an independent report, including acting to remove dangerous birds.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner ordered the investigation into the council’s management of birds after the tragic death of five-month-old Mia, who died after her mother fell while trying to duck a swooping magpie at Glindemann Park, in Holland Park.

It came after the Courier Mail revealed that a number of residents had reported incidents of swooping birds in the area in the weeks leading up to Mia’s death on August 9.

Mia was described as perfect “from her head full of hair, to her tiny little nose and her little long toes”.

As a result of the independent investigation, an 80-page report revealed that there were five magpie swooping notifications in Glindemann Park in the lead up to Mia’s death.

The council found three existing warning signs in the park were not close enough to the location where the swooping incidents were occurring.

“What the report makes clear is that Council needs stronger procedures to ensure experts are called in earlier and these birds are relocated,” Cr Schrinner said.

Council closed the footpath in Glindemann Park following the vicious attack. Picture: Liam Kidston

In the wake of Mia’s death, experts were brought in to remove the rogue bird at Glindemann Park.

Before this there had only been one other recent removal of a magpie, which was in Tingalpa in September 2020.

As part of the new guidelines, Cr Schrinner said the Council would need to act to remove dangerous birds and develop clearer warning signs for residents.

“The changes I have made will now make it crystal clear that whenever there is a dangerous swooping incident or evidence a bird’s aggressive behaviour is escalating it will be a requirement that the State-licenced experts are called in,” he said.

Under the State Government’s Nature Conservation Act Council officers are unable to remove native animals, like magpies.

But Cr Schrinner said experts with a Department of Environment permit would be contracted by the council more frequently whenever a swooping incident results in serious injury.

Cr Schrinner also said he was concerned Council’s existing signs weren’t effectively warning people about swooping birds.

“I have directed Council officers to develop new highly-visible signs so it is clearer that recent swooping incidents have been reported in an area,” he said.

Flowers and toys at the memorial for Mia at Glindemann Park. Picture: Liam Kidston

Meanwhile a fundraising event will be held in honour of Mia on Wednesday, September 1, with $1 from every pizza sold at more than 40 Dominoes stores donated to Precious Wings on behalf of Mia’s parents.

The organisation provides support to families facing the devastating loss of their child by gifting memory boxes to families in hospitals.