That’s why he has asked the council to investigate the most appropriate way of alerting residents and users of public places, including parks, playgrounds, sporting fields and cycleways, to the presence of swooping magpies.
“Every year, there have been numerous reports of people, including young children and the elderly being swooped upon by magpies during their annual nesting season, which typically occurs in late August till mid-late October,” he said.
“Being unexpectedly swooped while cycling can result in loss of control of the bicycle, leading to an accident. Tragically, last year a person in Wollongong died after riding his bike off a path and smashing into a nearby fence.”
He said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, there are more residents than ever out and about in parks, reserves and playgrounds getting their daily exercise, so it is important for the council to inform residents about magpies’ known locations.
Birds’ swoop season alert
WHILE some onlookers might have an innocent chuckle when they see a magpie swooping attack, they can cause serious wounds to the head, eyes and ears, says Canterbury Bankstown Cr Steve Tuntevski.