Public urged to leave nesting birds alone as ‘swooping season’ begins for Geelong

Spring has sprung, and a number of swooping birds have been recorded across the Geelong area. SEE THE MAP.

Swooping season has begun.

Swooping season is well and truly underway, with a number of aggressive birds recorded across the Geelong region.

Nine instances of seasonal swooping birds have been reported to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) Swoop Locations 2023 map since late July.

The reports include an array of birds in different locations - including a magpie in Drysdale swooping someone jogging in a schoolyard, to a family of plovers swooping pedestrians on a footpath near Tate Street Primary School in Thomson.

Bird incidents have also been recorded in Bannockburn, Norlane, Ceres, Torquay, Jan Juc, Modewarre and Moriac.

In a horror story shared to the Geelong Advertiser via social media, a reader recalled their grandfather’s unfortunate encounter with an aggressive bird.

“My Grandfather had a patch of hair missing from the top of his head due to a magpie attack,” the commenter wrote

“His hair never grew back in there.”

DEECA’s senior wildlife orojects officer Abby Smith said that swooping was normal and natural for the birds, and generally posed no threat to humans.

“Every spring, some native birds swoop to defend their eggs and young for a short time while their young are most vulnerable,” Ms Smith said.

Swooping season is back. Photographer: Liam Kidston

“While swooping is unsettling, it’s normal behaviour for a range of native birds, swooping is a warning to people and animals not to come near their young and it’s rare for birds to make contact.”

Ms Smith said native birds could swoop in urban and rural areas, parks and gardens, along bike tracks or anywhere that birds are nesting.

“Not all birds swoop during the breeding season, so don’t be concerned simply because there are magpies or other common swooping birds in the area,” she said.

“Remember, the swooping behaviour will only last for a few weeks, normally stopping soon after the young leave the nest.”

People are urged to leave the nesting birds alone. Photographer: Liam Kidston

Those worried about the possibility of being swooped can plan their route around known hotspots and add to the Geelong Advertiser’s interactive map by leaving a comment below.

Originally published as Public urged to leave nesting birds alone as ‘swooping season’ begins for Geelong