Spring has well and truly arrived, and with it comes one of Australia's most talked-about seasonal challenges. At time of writing this email there have been 3384 swooping magpies registered with 437 (13 per cent) causing injuries.
If you're among the many Australians who enjoy morning walks, cycling, or simply pottering about in the garden, it's time to brush up on your magpie safety knowledge.
The numbers tell a sobering story. In 2024, the website recorded 3,563 magpie swoop attacks across Australia, of which only 13 per cent resulted in injury.
While that might sound reassuring, for seniors, even a minor swooping incident can have serious consequences due to balance issues, slower reaction times, or medications that might affect coordination.
'There are some absolutely tragic stories of people responding to the shock and falling over and passing away'
Understanding when and where magpies strike
Magpies swoop to protect their young during the breeding season, which runs from June to December each year. According to Birdlife Australia, Victoria's swooping season kicks off in earnest from September.
The timing can vary slightly between states, but generally, you'll want to be extra cautious from August through to November.
Here's something that might surprise you: MagpieAlert data notes that for 2024, 67.2 per cent of reported swoops happened while riding a bike. This makes sense when you consider that to a magpie, the faster you're moving, the greater the perceived threat, which is why cyclists, joggers and dog-walkers are common targets.
2024 Swooping Statistics by State
Queensland: 14 per cent injury rate (highest)
Victoria: 14 per cent injury rate
Australian Capital Territory: 15 per cent injury rate
Western Australia: 14 per cent injury rate
New South Wales: 10 per cent injury rate
South Australia: 8 per cent injury rate (lowest)
Why seniors need to be extra cautious
While magpie attacks affect all age groups, there are particular considerations for older Australians. 'Some of the more catastrophic events happen when people haven't so much been swooped and attacked, but they've responded and tripped over and suffered a head injury.'
For seniors, who may have reduced balance or take medications that affect coordination, this risk is amplified.
The good news? Estimates suggest only between 10 per cent and 20 per cent of magpies do so. Approximately 90 per cent of male magpies won't swoop and females typically don't swoop at all. Knowledge and preparation are your best defences.
Your prevention toolkit
The most effective strategy remains the simplest: avoidance. MagpieAlert publishes a map of known swoops as reported by the public, as does the Department of Land, Water and Planning.
Check your local council website too—Council has installed signs in known Magpie nesting areas throughout Randwick City and many other councils follow similar practices.
If you must travel through a known swooping area, here's your protection strategy:
Essential gear for walkers:
- Wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses—Wear a large, wide brim hat and sunglasses or carry an open umbrella
- Carry an umbrella or walking stick above your head (don't swing it)
- Consider bright or unusual colours—some reports suggest magpies are less likely to target people wearing bright clothing
For cyclists:
- If being swooped whilst cycling, dismount and leave the area on foot. It may stop the bird swooping you, but more importantly it can also reduce the risk of you having an accident due to the bird distracting you.
- Cable ties attached to your helmet can deter attacks
- Consider walking your bike through known swooping zones
What to do during an encounter
If you find yourself face-to-face with an aggressive magpie, resist every natural instinct to panic or run. 'That may provoke them even more and you may be actually running towards the nest instead of running away from it,' Castley said.
Instead, follow these steps:
- Stay calm - Magpies tend to see fast-moving objects as more threatening so you should calmly, but quickly leave their territory if being swooped
- Face the bird - Face the magpie! They tend to attack from behind, so facing them should avert them
- Protect your eyes - Try to protect your eyes with your hands. Those large beaks are very sharp, and eye injuries have been previously recorded
- Walk steadily away - Don't run, but move purposefully out of the area
- Maintain eye contact - Magpies are less likely to swoop if you look at them
Essential first aid for magpie injuries
- For small cuts: Clean immediately, check tetanus vaccination status if last shot over 5 years ago
- For eye injuries: Flush gently with clean water from inner to outer corner
- For bleeding: Apply direct pressure with clean cloth
- Seek medical attention for: Eye injuries, deep cuts, signs of infection, or if you feel unwell
- Call 000 if: Severe bleeding, unconsciousness, or serious head injury from falling
When injuries occur: first aid essentials
While most swooping incidents result in nothing more than a fright, injuries do happen. This year the majority of injuries were cuts and bruises to ears and cheeks, some were unfortunate to sustain broken collarbones, wrists and a broken elbow from falling from their bikes while under attack.
For minor cuts and scratches:
- Clean the wound immediately with water
- The patient should consider a tetanus vaccine if the last shot was more than five years ago
- Apply antiseptic and cover with a clean bandage
- Monitor for signs of infection
Eye injuries require special attention. A small foreign body may be removed by gently flushing the affected eye with running water from the inner corner to the outer corner.
If unsuccessful, cover the eye with a clean pad and seek medical advice. For any eye injury beyond minor irritation, don't delay—seek medical attention promptly.
Technology to help you stay safe
The digital age has brought us some excellent tools for avoiding magpie encounters altogether. The community-run website MagpieAlert.com has been collecting data since 2013 and offers real-time reporting of swooping incidents across Australia. You can search by your postcode to see recent activity in your area.
Many local councils also maintain their own reporting systems.
The council has installed signs in known Magpie nesting areas throughout Randwick City, but if you are aware of frequent swooping by the birds in an area without signs, please let them know by contacting the Customer Service Centre online or by calling 1300 722 542. You can also contribute to this database of swooping sites. [10]
Did you know?
Did you know?
Magpies have extraordinary memory and facial recognition abilities. Research shows they can recognise up to 100 different human faces and remember them for years. If a magpie has swooped you before, it may remember you specifically and target you again in future breeding seasons—but the reverse is also true. Magpies that have positive interactions with humans often learn to trust those individuals and won't swoop them.
The bigger picture: respecting our feathered neighbours
It's worth remembering that Magpies are protected throughout Australia, and it is against the law to kill the birds, collect their eggs, or harm their young. If you feel a magpie is a serious menace, it should be reported to your local council.
According to University of New England Emeritus Professor of Animal Behaviour Gisela Kaplan, more than 80 per cent of breeding magpies nest near houses, meaning that only a very small proportion of those living close to humans are actually involved in swooping incidents. For most of the year, these intelligent birds are delightful garden visitors with their distinctive warbling call and curious nature.
The swooping behaviour, while inconvenient for us, serves an important purpose. However, during the nesting season from August to October, some magpies can become highly protective of their young. Just like us, they use body language—beak clapping, swooping and screeching—to warn other birds, animals and humans to keep away from their eggs or newly-hatched chicks.
Looking ahead: building confidence for outdoor enjoyment
Remember, the swooping season is temporary—typically lasting just six to eight weeks per bird. Remember that each bird that swoops only does so for around six weeks.
With proper precautions and awareness, there's no reason to let magpie concerns keep you indoors during this beautiful time of year.
Consider joining walking groups during swooping season—Walk in a group as the birds often target solo travellers. Not only is this safer, but it's also a wonderful way to stay social and active. Many communities have senior walking groups that adjust their routes seasonally to avoid known swooping areas.
If you've had a previous negative encounter with a particular magpie, don't take it personally—but do take it seriously. That means if you invoke the ire of a particular bird (or you look similar to someone who did), it is likely to remember you, and swoop accordingly in the future.
Consider permanently adjusting your routine around that specific location, or coordinate with your council to have warning signs installed.
What This Means For You
The key message? Respect, prepare, and stay informed. With thousands of Australians successfully navigating magpie season each year, you can too. Check MagpieAlert before your daily walks, pack your wide-brimmed hat, and remember—this seasonal challenge is just another part of our unique Australian way of life.
What's your experience been with magpie encounters? Have you found any particular strategies that work well for staying safe during swooping season? We'd love to hear your stories and tips in the comments below.
Original Article
https://www.9news.com.au/national/m...xplained/1461d5a2-9e46-4cb7-9e6c-49569187b31c
Magpie Swooping 2024—Statistics, Insights and the Top 10 Angry Birds!
Cited text: At time of writing this email there have been 3384 swooping magpies registered with 437 (13 per cent) causing injuries.
Excerpt: At time of writing this email there have been 3384 swooping magpies registered with 437 (13 per cent) causing injuries.
https://www.magpiealert.com/Top10AngryBirds_2024.php
Magpie swooping season Victoria: safety tips | RACV
Cited text: In 2024, the website recorded 3,563 magpie swoop attacks across Australia, of which only 13 per cent resulted in injury.
Excerpt: In 2024, the website recorded 3,563 magpie swoop attacks across Australia, of which only 13 per cent resulted in injury.
https://www.racv.com.au/royalauto/news/community/magpie-swooping-season-victoria-advice.html
Magpie swooping season Victoria: safety tips | RACV
Cited text: Magpies swoop to protect their young during the breeding season, which runs from June to December each year. According to Birdlife Australia, Victoria...
Excerpt: Magpies swoop to protect their young during the breeding season, which runs from June to December each year.
https://www.racv.com.au/royalauto/news/community/magpie-swooping-season-victoria-advice.html
Magpie swooping season Victoria: safety tips | RACV
Cited text: This includes people on bicycles, who are often a prime target for swooping—MagpieAlert data notes that for 2024, 67.2 per cent of reported swoops h...
Excerpt: MagpieAlert data notes that for 2024, 67.2 per cent of reported swoops happened while riding a bike.
https://www.racv.com.au/royalauto/news/community/magpie-swooping-season-victoria-advice.html
Magpie swooping season is here—but to these birds, not all humans are equal | SBS News
Cited text: To a magpie, the faster you’re moving, the greater the perceived threat, which is why cyclists, joggers and dog-walkers are common targets.
Excerpt: to a magpie, the faster you're moving, the greater the perceived threat, which is why cyclists, joggers and dog-walkers are common targets.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article...hese-birds-not-all-humans-are-equal/9dv138v1f
Magpie swooping season is here—but to these birds, not all humans are equal | SBS News
Cited text: 'There are some absolutely tragic stories of people responding to the shock and falling over and passing away,' Hochuli said.'Some of the more catastr...
Excerpt: 'Some of the more catastrophic events happen when people haven't so much been swooped and attacked, but they've responded and tripped over and suffered a head injury.'
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article...hese-birds-not-all-humans-are-equal/9dv138v1f
Magpie swooping season is here—but to these birds, not all humans are equal | SBS News
Cited text: Estimates suggest only between 10 per cent and 20 per cent of magpies do so.
Excerpt: Estimates suggest only between 10 per cent and 20 per cent of magpies do so. Approximately 90 per cent of male magpies won't swoop and females typically don't swoop at all.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article...hese-birds-not-all-humans-are-equal/9dv138v1f
Everything you need to know about magpie swooping season
Cited text: Approximately 90 per cent of male magpies won’t swoop and females typically don’t swoop at all.
Excerpt: Estimates suggest only between 10 per cent and 20 per cent of magpies do so. Approximately 90 per cent of male magpies won't swoop and females typically don't swoop at all.
https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/goodliving/posts/2015/08/magpie-swooping-season
Magpie swooping season Victoria: safety tips | RACV
Cited text: MagpieAlert publishes a map of known swoops as reported by the public, as does the Department of Land, Water and Planning.
Excerpt: MagpieAlert publishes a map of known swoops as reported by the public, as does the Department of Land, Water and Planning.
https://www.racv.com.au/royalauto/news/community/magpie-swooping-season-victoria-advice.html
Staying safe in Magpie swooping season—Randwick City Council
Cited text: Council has installed signs in known Magpie nesting areas throughout Randwick City, but if you are aware of frequent swooping by the birds in an area ...
Excerpt: Council has installed signs in known Magpie nesting areas throughout Randwick City
https://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/abo...tember/staying-safe-in-magpie-swooping-season
Staying safe in Magpie swooping season—Randwick City Council
Cited text: Wear a large, wide brim hat and sunglasses or carry an open umbrella.
Excerpt: Wear a large, wide brim hat and sunglasses or carry an open umbrella
https://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/abo...tember/staying-safe-in-magpie-swooping-season
Magpie swooping season Victoria: safety tips | RACV
Cited text: If being swooped whilst cycling, dismount and leave the area on foot. It may stop the bird swooping you, but more importantly it can also reduce the r...
Excerpt: If being swooped whilst cycling, dismount and leave the area on foot. It may stop the bird swooping you, but more importantly it can also reduce the risk of you having an accident due to the bird distracting you.
https://www.racv.com.au/royalauto/news/community/magpie-swooping-season-victoria-advice.html
Magpie swooping season is here—but to these birds, not all humans are equal | SBS News
Cited text: Second, don't panic or run. 'That may provoke them even more and you may be actually running towards the nest instead of running away from it,' Castle...
Excerpt: 'That may provoke them even more and you may be actually running towards the nest instead of running away from it,' Castley said.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article...hese-birds-not-all-humans-are-equal/9dv138v1f
Magpie swooping season Victoria: safety tips | RACV
Cited text: Magpies tend to see fast-moving objects as more threatening so you should calmly, but quickly leave their territory if being swooped.
Excerpt: Magpies tend to see fast-moving objects as more threatening so you should calmly, but quickly leave their territory if being swooped
https://www.racv.com.au/royalauto/news/community/magpie-swooping-season-victoria-advice.html
Spring Time Essential Knowledge: Swooping First Aid
Cited text: If you panic and flap this is more likely to appear as aggressive behaviour and provoke a further attack · Face the magpie! They tend to attack from b...
Excerpt: They tend to attack from behind, so facing them should avert them
https://tinyhearts.com/en-us/blogs/safety/spring-time-essential-knowledge-swooping-first-aid
Spring Time Essential Knowledge: Swooping First Aid
Cited text: Try to protect your eyes with your hands. Those large beaks are very sharp, and eye injuries have been previously recorded.
Excerpt: Try to protect your eyes with your hands. Those large beaks are very sharp, and eye injuries have been previously recorded
https://tinyhearts.com/en-us/blogs/safety/spring-time-essential-knowledge-swooping-first-aid
Staying safe in Magpie swooping season—Randwick City Council
Cited text: Magpies are less likely to swoop if you look at them.
Excerpt: Magpies are less likely to swoop if you look at them
https://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/abo...tember/staying-safe-in-magpie-swooping-season
Magpie Swooping 2024—Statistics, Insights and the Top 10 Angry Birds!
Cited text: 2024 Injuries: This year the majority of injuries were cuts and bruises to ears and cheeks, some were unfortunate to sustain broken collarbones, wrist...
Excerpt: This year the majority of injuries were cuts and bruises to ears and cheeks, some were unfortunate to sustain broken collarbones, wrists and a broken elbow from falling from their bikes while under attack.
https://www.magpiealert.com/Top10AngryBirds_2024.php
Spring has Sprung: Attack of the Magpies—mivision
Cited text: The patient should consider a tetanus vaccine if the last shot was more than five years ago.
Excerpt: The patient should consider a tetanus vaccine if the last shot was more than five years ago
https://mivision.com.au/2023/10/spring-has-sprung-attack-of-the-magpies/
Spring Time Essential Knowledge: Swooping First Aid
Cited text: If you have been in a swooping incident which has caused an eye injury, you or your loved one might experience the following signs and symptoms: ... A...
Excerpt: A small foreign body may be removed by gently flushing the affected eye with running water from the inner corner to the outer corner.
https://tinyhearts.com/en-us/blogs/safety/spring-time-essential-knowledge-swooping-first-aid
MAGPIE ALERT! For Aussies to Share Swooping Magpie Attacks Across Australia
Cited text: Reported by Eve Rogers September 2nd, 2025 11:15 AM · Magpies are protected throughout Australia, and it is against the law to kill the birds, collect...
Excerpt: Magpies are protected throughout Australia, and it is against the law to kill the birds, collect their eggs, or harm their young.
Australia's Magpie Swooping Map 2025!
Cited text: Disappeared when I chased after it with a stick lol Clipped my head causing bleeding Reported by Matt Sostaric August 17th, 2025 05:19 PM · Magpies ar...
Excerpt: Magpies are protected throughout Australia, and it is against the law to kill the birds, collect their eggs, or harm their young.
https://www.magpiealert.com/index.php?page=4
Magpie Swooping: How to Avoid Getting Hit—PETA Australia
Cited text: And according to University of New England Emeritus Professor of Animal Behaviour Gisela Kaplan, more than 80 per cent of breeding magpies nest near houses, m...
Excerpt: According to University of New England Emeritus Professor of Animal Behaviour Gisela Kaplan, more than 80 per cent of breeding magpies nest near houses, meaning that only a very small proportion of those living close to humans are actually…
https://www.peta.org.au/campaigns/wildlife/magpie-swoop/
Everything you need to know about magpie swooping season
Cited text: However, during the nesting season from August to October, some magpies can become highly protective of their young. Just like us, they use body langu...
Excerpt: However, during the nesting season from August to October, some magpies can become highly protective of their young.
https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/goodliving/posts/2015/08/magpie-swooping-season
Magpie swooping season Victoria: safety tips | RACV
Cited text: Remember that each bird that swoops only does so for around six weeks.
Excerpt: Remember that each bird that swoops only does so for around six weeks.
https://www.racv.com.au/royalauto/news/community/magpie-swooping-season-victoria-advice.html
Staying safe in Magpie swooping season—Randwick City Council
Cited text: Walk in a group as the birds often target solo travellers.
Excerpt: Walk in a group as the birds often target solo travellers.
https://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/abo...tember/staying-safe-in-magpie-swooping-season
Magpie swooping season Victoria: safety tips | RACV
Cited text: That means if you invoke the ire of a particular bird (or you look similar to someone who did), it is likely to remember you, and swoop accordingly in...
Excerpt: That means if you invoke the ire of a particular bird (or you look similar to someone who did), it is likely to remember you, and swoop accordingly in the future.
https://www.racv.com.au/royalauto/news/community/magpie-swooping-season-victoria-advice.html
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