Swooping bird attack leaves real estate agent bleeding

An aggressive swooping bird has attacked a real estate agent multiple times, with the victim likening some of the injuries to “stab” wounds.

An aggressive swooping bird has left a man bleeding after attacking him as he was delivering pamphlets in Logan.

Real estate agent Paul Hartley was doing the letterbox drop on Wednesday when he was attacked by a bird on Woodlands Dr in Rochedale South.

“I heard a ‘swoosh’ go past my ear, and next minute I was hit on the cheek,” he said.

“It came around again ... and the next minute, I had a smack bang on the nose.”

Mr Hartley said the bird swooped three times and injured him twice.

“When somebody scratches you on the hand, it’s probably about that deep,” he said.

“The one on the cheek is … more of a stab.

“The actual (injury) on top of my nose is more like a nail scratch.

“That’s the one that bled the most.”

Paul Hartley after Wednesday’s attack. Picture: supplied

He said the bird appeared all of a sudden, seemingly from nowhere.

“I was listening to music just over my ears,” he said.

“It sort of took me by surprise, because it happened so quickly.

“I was walking under a couple of trees that cover the footpath, so I couldn’t see above me.

“I didn’t think it would actually hit me.”

He said there was no signage warning him of the danger before the attack.

Logan City Council was contacted for comment.

Mr Hartley was not the only person who was targeted by birds this year.

Brisbane City Council received 149 notifications of swooping birds-related incidents until last week, with Greenslopes, Carseldine, New Farm, Bracken Ridge and Keperra reported the most.

University of Southern Queensland wildlife expert Dr Meg Edwards said bird swooping happens often between August and November when they breed.

“Magpies are typically the ones that we think of as swooping birds,” she said.

“They are found on the west coast of Australia as well as the east coast, but we do tend to find the east coast reports more swooping, and particularly in those sort of built-up areas where birds and humans are more likely to come in contact with each other.”

Brisbane City Council places a physical signage at Sandford Street in St Lucia. Picture: Richard Walker

Dr Edwards advised the best thing for people to do was to avoid interactions with them for the few critical weeks.

“It might be too late for that man, but try to avoid a magpie nesting area,” she said.

“We can cross the road and walk on the other side of the road, or take just a different route.

“It’s only for a couple of weeks. It’s not for too long.

“If you’re seeing a magpie that looks on high alert, that might be an indication that maybe they’re nesting nearby.”

Dr Edwards also said magpies made sound when they swoop.

“Magpie has a really distinctive call,” she said.

“They tend to clap their beak together to try and make them sound a bit more scary.”

Originally published as Swooping bird attack leaves real estate agent bleeding