Magpie nesting season comes early with Maroubra attack

RANGERS are erecting signs warning people magpie swooping season has come early after an “aggressive” bird attack.

Magpie swooping season has come early with attacks on a cyclist along Coward St, Mascot and a taekwondo instructor pushing her 15-month-old son in a pram down Fitzgerald Ave, Maroubra. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

RANDWICK Council rangers are erecting signs warning residents that magpie swooping season has come early after an “aggressive” bird repeatedly attacked a taekwondo instructor at Maroubra, in Sydney’s east.

Emily Boulton Smith was pushing her 15-month-old son Marcus’ pram along Fitzgerald Ave near St Mary-St Joseph Catholic Primary School on August 12 when she was viciously pecked twice by a nesting magpie and left with a head wound gushing blood.

The self defence teacher, who was in a car accident a few months ago, said the magpie swooped at her three times and while she did not see or hear it, she felt a “smack in the head”.

“That was the first thing I knew about it,” she said. “It came back for me two more times. I jumped into the road because I did not know what to do.”

Watch your head ... Magpie nesting season is back and these mummy birds are not afraid to aggressively swoop down on those who venture into their nesting areas.

The Maroubra resident, who is a concussion expert, said she could not have prevented the attack and “made a beeline” for the Maroubra Beach lifeguard shelter where her bleeding head wound was cleaned up.

“Three times it swooped me, I did not hear or see anything,” Ms Boulton Smith said.

“I saw a couple walking up the road carrying a baby and I told them: ‘Don’t go up there, there’s a really aggressive magpie’.

“I basically grabbed a tissue out of the back of the pram and put it to my head, I had blood running down my arm. It was enough for me to get it cleaned up.

“I was pretty shaken up by it and a little bit shocked ... if it had swooped and hit my son, I would have been hysterical. I did not have the cover up on the pram ... it could have done him quite a lot of damage.”

Yesterday, Randwick Council rangers visited Arthur Byrne Reserve, near where Ms Boulton Smith was attacked, to put up signs warning about swooping magpies.

A spokeswoman said Fitzgerald Ave was a known nesting area and the magpie in question was likely a mother bird protecting her eggs.

Signs will be also put up at Nagle Park at Maroubra where magpies return every year to nest, she added.

Last year there were eight magpie attacks across Randwick local government area and the first incident was on August 29 while the nesting season traditionally runs from September 1 to November 30.

Randwick Council ranger Leanne Bunn with a sign warning about swooping magpies at Arthur Byrne Reserve, Maroubra. Picture: Craig Wilson

Magpie Attack, a website detailing incidents, said the southeast’s earliest attack in 2017 was at Mascot on August 6 when cyclist Ross C was swooped heading west along Coward St.

“I felt the thump on my helmet and kept riding,” he said. “It did not come back for a second attempt.

“I suspect this is the same magpie that used to be in Kent Rd near Church Ave that was active in 2016. Annoying because I and many, many people use this route past the airport.”

A walker in Birrell St, Waverley was also swooped on August 1 but was not injured.

Bayside and Randwick councils have warned residents to be aware of magpies during spring when they can become protective of their chicks causing them to swoop.

“Magpies are not usually aggressive but for four to six weeks during nesting they often defend their territory vigorously,” a Bayside Council spokesman said.

“People walking past may be seen as ‘invaders’ of the territory, prompting the magpies to fly low and fast over the person, clacking their beaks as they pass overhead.

“In the vast majority of cases the swooping is simply bluff, however sometimes people can receive minor head injuries as a result of swooping magpies.”

He said the protected behaviour only lasted a few weeks and for the rest of the year, magpies were peaceful insect eaters known for their “pleasant warbling.”

Randwick mayor Noel D’Souza said the best thing residents could do was to avoid nesting areas.

Taekwondo instructor Emily Boulton Smith was attacked by a magpie who drew blood as she pushed her 15-month-old son in his pram down Fitzgerald Ave at Maroubra.

“We need to remember these are mother birds wanting to protect their chicks in the nest,” he said. “So the best things we can do for them is to take a different walking or cycling route if we know there is a swooping magpie in the area.”

Other options included using an open umbrella, helmet or hat as protection, while cyclists were urged to dismount if riding past known nesting sites to avoid falling off.

“Definitely don’t throw sticks or rocks at the bird or nest and try to refrain from waving your arms about as this may increase aggressive behaviours and prompt more swooping,” Cr D’Souza said.

Calls to remove nests and birds had proved difficult in the past as magpies were native birds and council required permission from National Parks and Wildlife (NPWS), he added.

“Birds are likely to rebuild nests in the same area the following year and display even more aggressive behaviour,” Cr D’Souza said.

WILD MAGPIE HELPS FEED ORPHANED CHICKS

This year there have been 206 attacks and 39 injuries nationally, according to Magpie Alert.

Residents can report high swooping areas to their council or the NPWS on 1300 072 757 in cases where magpies were believed to be a public safety risk.

Originally published as Magpie nesting season comes early with Maroubra attack