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Magpies have begun swooping in Bendigo and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning is urging people to report problem spots.
Wildlife officer Brady Childs said people could report swooping incidents to the Victorian magpie map on the DELWP’s website.
Mr Childs said no-one liked being swooped by territorial birds, but it was part of their normal behavior.
“It’s important we keep in mind that birds only swoop for a relatively short period of time, about four to six weeks,” he said.
“People should remember not to harm native birds as they are protected under the Wildlife Act.
“If possible, the best response is to keep away from them.”
Mr Childs said if a problem area could not be avoided people should try to protect their head and eyes while moving swiftly to safety.
It is not just magpies who swoop at this time of year, either. Mr Childs said plovers were also getting territorial.
The Wildlife Rescue and Information Service hotline recently received a call about plovers banging into a glass sunlight.
The animals were uninjured and the call-taker gave the caller the DELWP’s phone number for advice.
Mr Childs said the plovers’ behavior was not unusual.
“Some birds, crows are another example, do respond to their reflection during breeding season – seeing the reflection as an invader in their territory.”
WRIN’s Publicity manager Michelle Mead said birds injured after flying into glass windows was a year-round problem.
She said external blinds were just one easy solution, because they made it harder for birds to mistake their reflection for a feathery enemy.
“We just have to find solutions to these little things. Birds are great to have around and we love to look at them and hear their calls. So we just need to find ways to live together,” she said.
Ms Mead said this time of year her network did not see a rise in the number of birds injured by agitated swoop-victims.
The DELWP’s Victorian magpie map can be found at www.delwp.vic.gov.au/swoop