Terrifying magpie attack caught on camera amid swooping season

A man’s worst nightmare has come true as he was swooped by a magpie moments after making an ironic brag to mates.

A NSW man has found out the hard way magpie swooping season has begun.

Michael Murdoch was forced to duck for cover after being swooped by a particularly persistent magpie near his home at Raymond Terrace on September 17.

“It was on like Donkey Kong; I started screaming and running. I’m screaming for my life,” he told 7 News.

Unluckily for Mr Murdoch, his friends had pulled out their cameras to capture the attack, while laughing at his attempts to evade the bird.

After he fell to the ground multiple times, he was left with cuts and scratches to match his bruised ego.

Ironically, Mr Murdoch had been bragging to mates, just moments before the attack from above began, that he’d never been swooped

Magpie swooping season is at its peak in September, but can last until December.

“I had never actually been swooped by a magpie. I thought they were friendly,” Mr Murdoch said.

He now says he’s afraid of the birds after the attack, and no longer walks the streets without fear.

“I can tell you one thing, I’m scared of them now,” he said.

With swooping season upon us, Aussies are being warned to keep their eyes peeled for magpies.

Male magpies attack anything they perceive to be a threat while their mates are in the nest taking care of eggs or baby birds.

If you know you live near nesting magpies, experts recommend changing your travel routes so you’re out of danger.

If you ride a bike, walk it through magpie territory or have a flag on the back of the bike which is higher than your head to avoid getting swooped. Picture: Tertius Pickard

But if you do get swooped, there’s one piece of seemingly counterintuitive advice that can prevent the attack from worsening.

“Do not act aggressively. If you wave your arms about or shout, the magpies will see you as a threat to the nest – and not just this year, but for up to five years to come,” the South Australian government has warned residents.

Originally published as Terrifying magpie attack caught on camera amid swooping season