Mulherin Park magpie attack: Tianna Neeve calls on Mackay council to take action

A young girl suffered scratches ‘not even a centimetre from her eye’ after a magpie attack. Read Mackay council’s response after the mother demanded action.

Mackay mum Tianna Neeve had taken her daughters Kiara, 11, and Maci, 5, to a friend’s birthday party when – just 20 minutes in – the day went horribly wrong.

The festivities at Mulherin Park had just begun when Maci Neeve ran after her older sister and a magpie suddenly swooped about 10.20am on Saturday.

She suffered scratches across her cheeks and forehead that just barely avoided her eyes, prompting her mother Tianna to contact Mackay Regional Council and demand action to protect children from birdlife.

The council on Monday immediately went to the park to install extra warning signs upon receiving the complaint.

“So the big girls had run over to the other side of the park and my little one (Maci) had followed them over,” Ms Neeve said.

Maci Neeve, 5, had scratches across her face after a magpie swooped her at Mulherin Park, Mackay Harbour. Picture: Tianna Neeve

“Next minute, this magpie’s just come back behind her and just hit her in the head and she screamed.

“(The magpie) hit her again, it was just so aggressive and wanted to keep following her.

“She was just screaming and I’ve never seen her face like that before.

“I kind of just held her close to me (and) I’ve looked at my hand and there’s blood running down my hand and arm.

“There’s just scratches all over her face (and) her hair was just soaked in blood.”

Close up on five-year-old Maci Neeve's injuries after a magpie swooped her at Mulherin Park, Mackay Harbour. Picture: Tianna Neeve

Ms Neeve said she called all of the kids back and rushed to gather napkins to stem the bleeding, before getting an icepack from a nearby cafe.

Maci also got an ice block and sat with her mother in the car while calming down.

“It was just horrible, because they were having fun one minute (and) next minute she’s being dive-bombed by this magpie,” Ms Neeve said.

Close up on five-year-old Maci Neeve's injuries after a magpie swooped her at Mulherin Park, Mackay Harbour. Picture: Tianna Neeve

“And I’m like, oh my gosh, I need to warn people.

“So I jump on my phone and I emailed council straightaway (as well as) posting on the Mums and Bubs (Facebook) group.”

Ms Neeve said there were several comments on her post regarding magpie attacks in the same area.

She said she took the photos after she had cleaned up the bulk of the blood.

The area where five-year-old Maci Neeve was swooped by a magpie in Mulherin Park, Mackay Harbour. Picture: Contributed

Interestingly, Ms Neeve said the magpie that attacked Maci later hopped around near the birthday party in hope of a snack.

She was far more concerned that the tree-covered area where the magpie attacked had no sign warning of swooping birds.

Like her daughters, Ms Neeve grew up playing in Mulherin Park and recalled a magpie warning sign had previously been present during nesting season.

“ (Maci) is going to be terrified of birds for the rest of her life now,” she said.

Maci Neeve, 5, was with her mother Tianna and sister Kiara at a birthday party when she was swooped by a magpie. Picture: Tianna Neeve

“When it’s a children’s park and there’s magpies around, I honestly think they should be moved.

“I know there’s more rules around (moving birds), it would be the bare minimum to have a sign.

“I understand (magpies) have got to protect their babies, (but) I also have to protect my babies.”

Mackay council acting CEO Angela Hays said it was the first report to council of a swooping magpie at the park this season.

“Council’s parks team have been out to the park this morning to install additional warning signage,” Ms Hays said on Monday.

“At this stage, we are encouraging members of the public to avoid the area.

“Council will monitor the bird’s behaviour.

“Council does everything possible to avoid interfering with nesting native wildlife, however, council would look to relocate a magpie in some extreme instances.

“If a magpie that is defending its nest becomes aggressive to the point there is a risk to human safety and it is not practical for people to avoid the area or use an alternative route, we will look at employing a licensed magpie relocator.”

Originally published as Mulherin Park magpie attack: Tianna Neeve calls on Mackay council to take action