Ferocious and feathered, now is the time when magpies and plovers are attacking people in the streets of Braidwood.
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In the quest to alert others to local magpie hot spots, the Braidwood Times asked readers for their hotspots and horror stories.
Complaints flooded in, as Braidwood took to their keyboards to report the angry birds.
Braidwood’s most vicious swooper lives on Ryrie Street, between the Central School and Coronation Avenue. The Times was inundated with complaints about this bird, which seems to haunt over 300 metres of street.
It has caused wounds to adults and children walking that path, one teacher reported.
One concerned sister sent in a picture of her younger brother after he had been swooped, showing wounds to his temple and forehead. She reported the seven year old Mark would now no longer take that route to school.
The corner of Elrington and Duncan Street was another swooping hotspot, with several people reporting a an aggressive magpie there, which may have calmed down recently.
The magpie swooping season starts in September and runs for about six weeks, meaning the onslaught is set to continue for some time.
Magpies are protected by law and they are only protecting their young when they swoop at people approaching their nests.
Tips for avoiding swooping bird attacks include
- Avoid the area
- Move quickly, but don’t run
- Sport a hat, helmet or umbrella, you can even attach eyes to the back of this to trick the bird into thinking it’s being watched
- Walk your bike
- Watch the magpie
- Do not harass the birds or destroy their nests, as this exacerbates their aggression
Have you been swooped? Let us know at elspeth.kernebone@fairfaxmedia.com.au