Residents warned to take care this spring as native birds begin breeding season

It’s swooping season for native birds and Geelong council has cautioned residents to take care when outdoors. SEE THE MAP

Swooping season has begun for native birds who will be protecting eggs and chicks throughout spring. Picture: Brad Fleet

As the weather warms up, breeding season for native birds begins along with the time of year when they swoop.

Many native birds such as magpies and plovers protect their eggs and young during the season by swooping.

Breeding season is expected to continue until mid-November.

The City of Greater Geelong is encouraging residents to take care in outdoor areas and to minimise their risk of being swooped by avoiding nesting areas where birds are swooping where possible, or protecting their head and eyes while moving through an area quickly.

Magpies are among native birds that can swoop during breeding season to protect their young. Picture: Brad Fleet

Councillor Elise Wilkinson, deputy chair of the Council’s Environment and Circular Economy

portfolio, said swooping birds were likely to be found across urban and rural areas.

“Native birds are an important part of our natural environment and are rightly afforded legal protection,” she said.

“We should all be aware of potential swooping risks and prepared to modify our behaviour outdoors when needed.

“By doing simple things such as protecting our head and either avoiding or moving through a

breeding area quickly, we can reduce our chances of being swooped.”

The Victorian Government’s swooping bird map, ‘Magpie Map’, shows hot spots where people have been swooped during the current or previous breeding season.

All native birds are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975.

About 10 per cent of birds swoop and it is rare for them to cause serious injury.

Each breeding pair will normally swoop for four to six weeks until their chicks can fly.

Geelong residents are asked to contact the customer service team on 5272 5272 to report a bird swooping on City of Greater Geelong-managed land.

The council will place warning signs at the site and assess the behaviour of the bird.

People can also report the swooping locations to the Victorian Government.

Originally published as Residents warned to take care this spring as native birds begin breeding season