Magpies

Magpies and people living together:

The Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service (QPWS) commissioned Griffith University to research magpie behaviour between 1994 and 2001. Project co-ordinator Dr Darryl Jones found that magpies are an intelligent and misunderstood bird.

This article presents the latest scientific information on magpies based on Dr Jones’ work and is adapted from his book “Magpie Alert: Learning to Live With a Wild Neighbour”. QPWS offers this information as advice on how to co-exist with the magpie.

Our suburban home

Magpies are adapted to open environments and find their food on the ground. They love living in the suburbs because there are vast areas of lawns for foraging, scattered trees for nesting and plenty of food and water. Even though they get used to seeing people around, they are still wild animals, defending their territories from other magpies and keeping real and would-be predators away from their precious nests.

Protecting their babies

Most magpies accept the presence of people in their territories and that we are not competitors or dangerous predators. A few birds, however, become convinced that some people are a threat to their chicks and attempt to scare them away from the vicinity of the nest. Usually this is a small area (the “defence zone”, about 100 metres radius) around the tree containing the nest, although it may be a wider area when cyclists are involved.

Keep Away! THE MAGPIE’S ‘DEFENCE ZONE’ Photo by Graham Stephinson

Magpie swooping is almost entirely limited to the “defence zone”. Swooping lasts only while there are chicks in the nest (about six weeks) and are launched by the male. His aim is to drive the intruder away from the nest, not to cause injury. If you leave the area quickly, the bird almost always stops swooping.

Magpies are specialists

Magpies that swoop on people are strict specialists. Some are threatened only by pedestrians and others only by cyclists. The few magpies that swoop anyone are usually nesting near a concentration of people (especially schools), where harassment by people (especially children) has probably occurred.
 

They know their neighbours

Magpies specialising in pedestrians are the commonest sort. Research shows they usually target a small number of people known to them. This means that these magpies recognise people and for some reason see these individuals as potential threats to their chicks. These unfortunate people account for a large proportion of the attacks that occur.

Cyclists should dismount

In contrast, the magpies that swoop cyclists will target anyone riding past. It’s not known why these birds start swooping bikes, but the research shows they are responding mainly to movement. Stopping, dismounting and walking away will instantly stop the swooping. Click on the link to read more. >> 

Protect yourself

The best way to stop being swooped is to avoid places where aggressive magpies are nesting. If you must enter that area, protect your head with a good hat or umbrella. Keep your eyes on the bird, walk quickly through and never harass it - that only ensures an even worse attack next time. 

When action is needed

Of course, some magpies may be difficult to avoid or are so aggressive that serious injuries can occur. In these rare cases, magpies may be relocated by QPWS. But in most cases, it is best to learn to co-exist during the nesting period which lasts about six weeks and take some simple precautions.

For more information, contact the EPA hotline 1300 130 372 or the Daisy Hill Koala Centre at 07 3299 1032.