Maggies terrorise cyclists

Published 1:49pm 25 September 2020

Magpie season has hit the Moreton Bay Region in full force, with butcher birds, plovers and crows joining in for good measure. Here’s where they’re swooping …

Among the victims so far are footy players at Burpengary, pupils walking to Minimbah State School at Morayfield and cyclists, scooters and skateboarders in Redcliffe.

Eye on the sky

Mayor Peter Flannery says locals need to keep an eye on the sky to avoid injury.

“I think we’ve all laughed at plenty of YouTube videos of cyclists and pedestrians being swooped by birds, but this is a seasonal issue we need to take seriously,” he says.

“Smaller birds like peewees and plovers mightn’t do much damage, but larger swooping birds like magpies and crows can cause real injuries, especially to children.”

Nesting anywhere

Mayor Flannery says it’s a regional issue and birds could nest anywhere.

“In fact, there’s a peewee out the front of our Strathpine office that’s given some of our staff a surprise.

“This is seasonal, and we typically receive reports of swooping birds in higher populated areas, simply because there are more people out and about.”

Good parenting

He reminded people swooping birds were simply good parents trying to protect their offspring.

“Staying safe is as simple as giving roosting areas a wide berth and choosing a different route,” Mayor Flannery says.

Other suggestions for staying safe include wearing a hat and sunglasses, carrying an umbrella to protect your face and eyes, dismounting from your bike and walking through an area, and not waving your arms, yelling or throwing objects at birds.

Residents can report swooping birds on Council-owned land through the MBRC Request app, or by contacting Council.