Bird experts concerned swooping magpies may fear those in face masks

Bird experts say magpies are able to recognise up to 100 different people but that all changes once you add face masks into the mix.

Bird experts say there is a chance magpies will see people wearing face masks as a threat, as the swooping season starts earlier and runs longer.

Face coverings have been mandatory for everyone in Victoria without a lawful excuse since August 2 due to the second wave of COVID-19.

In New South Wales, they have been “strongly recommended” since August 6 in situations where it is hard to maintain 1.5m of physical distance from others or high-risk indoor areas such as in supermarkets and on public transport.

RELATED: Follow our live coronavirus coverage for Victoria

People wearing masks during the COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne. Picture: David Crosling/NCA NewsWire

RELATED: Follow our live coronavirus coverage for NSW

Birdlife Australia’s national public affairs manager, Sean Dooley, told 3AW on Tuesday magpies can recognise up to 100 different people but may not be able to recognise otherwise familiar faces when masks are being worn.

“Some of the research that was done out of Queensland, the researchers actually put masks on and the magpies would only swoop them when they were wearing a certain type of mask because they had done some behaviour that made the magpie fearful for its young that were in its nest,” he told host Neil Mitchell.

“So what we’re really fascinated with is, especially in Melbourne in lockdown everyone’s wearing masks, people aren’t out as much but when they are out they’re walking their local neighbourhood and the magpie may know you and know you’re okay, but if you’re wearing a mask they may not be able to recognise you.”

Bird experts are concerned swooping magpies may not be able to recognise otherwise familiar people due to face masks. Picture: Josh Woning/AAP

RELATED: One face mask you need to avoid

He said when there are “lots of people in the street”, magpies are unable to recognise everybody and “start to just go for categories of people”.

“They don’t know who’s friendly,” Mr Dooley said.

“Unfortunately they stereotype people, so if they’ve had a bad incident with say, a bloke walking a dog who throws a stick at a magpie or a 10-year-old-sized kid, if they’re seeing more than 100 people a day and they can’t work out who’s who, they will just start to target those types of people.”

Mitchell asked: “Does that mean if someone with a black mask monsters them (magpies), when anyone else in a black mask comes along they could be in trouble?”

“That’s one of the interesting possibilities,” Mr Dooley replied.

“It might be the colour of the mask that makes them go for you.

“I think where the proof of the pudding will be if we start to get reports of people being swooped by magpies for the first time that have never been swooped before, like they know those individual magpies.”

RELATED: Best reusable face masks to buy

Magpie nesting has started earlier in the southern parts of Australia, according to Birdlife Australia.

RELATED: Face mask rules in Australia

One woman posted in the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria on Facebook on Tuesday morning that the news was “something to keep a study of”.

“I hope not to feel the bittersweet attack of my local magpie friends if this be true. (I forgive them in advance),” Rebekah Mitchell-Matthews wrote.

“Although just this morning I observed a lady in our park, mask on, watching two magpies at the base of a tree singing. A darker one looked to be an adult and the other slightly brown hue and greyish so I assume a juvenile – facing each other singing.

“Point is this lady stood quite close and with her mask on and these two seemed so calm with it, and it caused no interruption.”

Mr Dooley said it was going to be “really fascinating” to see the swooping reports over the next few months.

According to the native bird conservation organisation, magpie nesting has started earlier in the southern parts of the country.

Dr Deb Kelly, from South Australia’s Department of Environment, told 7 News the early mating could lead to a double swooping season because magpies “will re-nest” if their young are killed.