Hills Shire Council condemned in NSW Parliament after shooting rogue magpie
An MP has condemned the Hills Shire Council over the death of a magpie last month, claiming the bird was shot ‘protecting her nest’.
Hills Shire
Don't miss out on the headlines from Hills Shire. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Hills Shire Council has come under renewed scrutiny in the NSW parliament after shooting a magpie dead in Kellyville last month.
Upper-house Animal Justice Party MP, Emma Hurst, called for the NSW parliament to “condemn the Hills Shire Council for the recent shooting of a parent magpie”
Ms Hurst told the senate that council shot a parent magpie “who was protecting her nest”, however, The Hills Shire Council have rejected that claim.
“The killing of this local native bird made headlines around the world for the callous response on the part of the council,” Ms Hurst said.
“The House calls on local councils to adopt nonlethal measures for dealing with these protected native birds during the short period in which they may take action to protect their nests and young.”
MORE FROM JAKE McCALLUM:
Hornsby brothel remains closed, madam gets bail
Kellyville teen charged over rider’s death
A council spokeswoman said a “particularly aggressive magpie” was euthanised after officers “exhausted all practical alternatives” after receiving 40 complaints about the bird on Old Windsor Rd, Bella Vista.
“There have been confirmed injuries, of which several resulted in hospitalisation from this particular magpie,” the spokeswoman said.
“Community complaints have also been made about this bird to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and online magpie swooping sites.”
The spokeswoman said the bird was also known to swoop people outside the season and “its attacks are not linked to the protection of a nest”.
“After Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service assessed the seriousness of the attacks, the bird was determined to be a significant risk to public safety,” she said.
“Council attempted to relocate the magpie on a number of occasions before coming to this decision with approval from the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
“Council does not usually take action to remove or destroy magpies — the usual procedure is to signpost known risk areas as birds are generally only aggressive for four to six weeks per year.”
The bird was killed on August 28 after being issued a permit from the National Parks and Wildlife Service to engage a pest controller with the guidance of NSW Police.