It's Official: Magpie Season

Warning! Warning! Danger! Danger!

September 1: From today don't go riding without a badminton racquet, squash racquet, or grapeshot.

Failing that, just go the long zip ties on your helmet or seriously consider changing your cycling route, as the birdys are just trying to protect their nests. And overdoing it a tad. Which we now realise ...

DSE: Swoop!

DSE warns cyclists and pedestrians about spring swooping season

Cyclists and pedestrians, you have been warned – with spring comes bird swooping season.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment says people should watch out for native birds that swoop to defend their nests and young.

The DSE said people should be tolerant in spring of magpies, butcherbirds and plovers that swoop in our parks, streets, bike paths, and school grounds.

DSE Senior Biodiversity Officer Glenn Sharp said most birds are content to watch passers-by warily from their nests, but a small percentage can get too close for comfort with people as they vigorously defended their young.

“This time of year we are reminded that we share our neighbourhoods with wildlife, and these birds are just making sure that we don’t disturb their eggs and nestlings,” Mr Sharp said.

As part of its annual swoop campaign, the DSE are issuing stickers with menacing eyes on them to discourage birds from swooping.

They should be placed on your hat or helme.

The DSE customer service centre received 650 calls statewide about swooping birds from July to December last spring, with most calls in September.

About 400 of the callers were from Melbourne, seeking basic advice and information.

“Most people are happy to take some simple measures to avoid being swooped, and the most effective of these is to avoid the area for a few months,” Mr Sharp said.