If you’re really having trouble getting your locals to become feathered friends, the occasional titbit of heart-smart mince can help—but be wary of feeding too often, as foraged food is better for wild birds. Although other causes of swooping behaviour have been proposed, including territoriality and testosterone levels, research suggests that nest defence is the underlying reason. 1 decade ago Does wearing cable ties and/or drawing eyes on your helmet stop magpies swooping when cycling? For starters, they provide free pest control by munching on bugs. There are also “super-swoopers” that are just better to avoid completely. But just because something is scary doesn't mean you should believe everything you hear. Bear that in mind, and we can hopefully reach a détente with our feathered (and occasionally flustered) friends. You can also try wearing your sunglasses on the back of your head, or drawing or sewing eyes onto the back of a hat. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Even more astonishingly, some magpies seem to really have it in for particular people, and will preferentially attack them. In fact, it seems like helmets are an issue, as swoops increased after the introduction of mandatory helmet laws in NSW in 1994. Privacy Policy. The 20 per cent of us who do experience some swooping usually encounter ’pies in public places such as parks and busy roads. The best way to avoid being swooped by a magpie is to change your walking or cycling route. According to one estimate, fewer than 10% of magpies swoop, and even fewer of these do so consistently. with dozens of parks and playgrounds descending into avian war zones. “It’s extremely valuable for other smaller songbirds who congregate around magpies because they know they are going to be defended.”. If you are a cyclist, walker, runner or maybe a concerned member of the public then help protect others and share swooping magpie attacks on-line here! Cyclists do seem to invoke more extreme reactions than pedestrians, judging by the fact that magpies appear to pursue cyclists farther. Once the chicks are out the males seem to calm down; presumably they perceive nest-bound chicks as most vulnerable. And obviously if you’re cycling, get off your bike.”. Sadly it seems that the classic tactic of attaching cable ties to your helmet does little to deter a determined magpie, beyond the fact that some strategic placing can help keep them away from your ears. Targets of this swooping behaviour can include cyclists, joggers, walkers, pets, birds of prey, and even other magpies. Swooping birds can be a frightening experience. The best way to avoid being swooped is to change your route. So, what’s the deal with magpies and bikes? To keep safe from swooping Australian magpies, avoid walking or biking through magpie nesting areas since magpies are more likely to swoop to protect their territory. Given that magpies have long memories, a few judicious offerings of mince or similar tidbits throughout the year can help you befriend them, making them much more amenable to your presence come spring. Avoid ‘defence zones’ by taking alternative routes during the breeding season. They even appear to quardle-oodle-ardle just for the fun of it, like humming in humans. “Swooping is a strategy to safeguard the nest site, but the species itself is neither inherently dangerous nor aggressive,” says Emeritus Professor Gisela Kaplan, professor in animal behaviour at the University of New England who has spent the last 25 years studying magpies. 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