Please be advised there have been several incidents of bird swooping across the campus in recent days..
Watch out for swooping birds
Swooping birds may be a frightening or even a dangerous experience. Native birds swoop in urban and rural areas, in parks and gardens, along bike tracks and in school yards, or anywhere the birds are nesting. By understanding why native birds swoop and how to avoid them, breeding season may be less stressful for people.
Why they swoop
Like most animals, magpies and other swooping birds instinctively protect their territory, particularly during breeding time. They are protecting their nests, eggs or young from potential intruders. Most birds will swoop within 30-50 meters of their nest. If they perceive you to be a potential threat, they may swoop. The likelihood of an attack is increased if they are teased or feel threatened in any way.
- Swooping is the most common defence behavior. The birds' aim is to threaten or bluff and the intention is only to ward off intruders.
- Beak clacking is part of their defence strategy.
- In a strike attack, a magpie usually swoops, hovers momentarily and then strikes. The fluttering of wings as the bird hovers can be a warning to duck your head to avoid the attack.
Risks
Swooping birds can cause injuries. They usually attack with their beaks and aim for the scalp, face or eyes. If bike riders are swooped they could lose their balance, fall off, or ride into the path of cars. A bird swooping can be a frightening experience for children. Swooping birds can also spook horses.
Protection and avoidance
All native birds are protected under the Wildlife Act and there are serious penalties for taking, harassing or injuring native wildlife. It is illegal to kill birds, destroy their nests or eggs without a permit or authority.
There are ways to minimise attacks.
Ways to avoid swooping that may work
- Avoid the swoop area – try walking or riding in a different direction.
- Cyclists should always wear a helmet. It is better to dismount and walk your bike past a swoop area.
- Travel in a group. Most birds only swoop individuals.
- Be confident and face a swooping bird; usually they only attack people facing away from them.
- Do not panic and run. It will only encourage a swooping bird to continue its attack.
- Wear a hat in an area where there are swooping birds.
- Magpies appear to be dissuaded from swooping when they are being watched, so try wearing a hat with 'eyes' painted on the back of it. Sunglasses worn backwards have a similar effect.
- Holding a stick or umbrella over your head will often cause the bird to keep its distance.
Ways that do not tend to work
- Do not harass, interfere or throw stones at birds as this only makes them more aggressive and defensive.
- Do not destroy nests as the birds may re-nest and the breeding season extended.
- Do not feed or befriend swooping birds.
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Remember
Most birds swoop only during the nesting and rearing period. They are only trying to protect their territory, nests, eggs and young. Most swooping behavior is a form of bluffing. Birds rarely make contact when swooping
The information above has been sourced from www.dse.vic.gov.au/swoop.
If you are swooped on campus please advise Security so we can identify areas on campus of the greatest concern.
An email from;
Ian Bastable
Acting Campus Facility Manager
City West/East Campuses
