It’s that time of year, when many native animals are on the move seeking a mate and raising young. It pays for drivers to slow down to avoid wildlife, but also for pedestrians and cyclists to be aware of risks that might be overhead.
Several species of birds ‘swoop’ to protect their territory and young, the best known being magpies. While it can be frightening, there are simple things you can do to protect yourself, and the birds, from injury:
Wear a hat and sunglasses or hold a bag or umbrella over your head if entering the nesting area.
If riding a bicycle, add spikes to your helmet or a flag to your bike and dismount when in the nesting zone.
If you are being swooped, don’t aggressively retaliate: protect yourself and move quickly out of the nesting zone.
Never pick up young magpies as they commonly ‘rest’ on the ground when they are young and will have a parent watching nearby.
If you think you have found an injured or orphaned magpie, call Redlands Wildlife Care Network on 3833 4031.
