How to avoid being swooped by a magpie

Urban myths cast our magpies as public enemy number one, when most of the time magpies are pretty chilled. They’re also super smart and loyal to their fam, feeling grief and mourning their dead. This devotion makes magpies awesome parents… but it also makes it awkward and terrifying for everyone else, especially in breeding time (swooping season) when they get the most intense, paranoid some would say - swooping unsuspecting folks that cross their paths. Especially the males, who it turns out are just super-overprotective dads.

Don’t hold it against them, and don’t be aggressive back. There are plenty of ways to protect yourself. So how to avoid a swooping situation? Does drawing eyes on your helmet really work? Here’s some common-sense advice plus a few tried-and-tested methods.

Getting in a magpie’s way during breeding time (between August and October) can be terrifying: a magpie will swoop over your head, clacking its beak to freak you out. Usually, this is just a slightly over-the-top warning, so don’t panic. But if you’re one of the unlucky ones (or the bird just doesn’t like you), it might actually hit you. 

Magpie swooping season is relatively short-lived though, with only 4-6 weeks out of the breeding time when magpies are highly territorial protecting their nest. So if you can't avoid the area altogether, there's safety in numbers - so move in a group. Magpies are more likely to target individuals.

Magpies are one of Australia's highly regarded songbirds with a variety of calls, many are complex and can reach up to 4 octaves. They're also known for mimicking more than 35 other birds, dogs, horses, and even humans.

Be cautious when you see them in a group. Solo magpies sing a quiet, warbling song, but in groups, magpies can rile each other up, so their call gets loud, high-pitched, and is on repeat. This is when they’re known to be the most territorial, so stay away.

If a magpie swoops, walk quickly (but don't run) and carefully away. Weirdly, magpies are less likely to swoop if you look at them, so lock eyes with them and stare them down until you're out of sight.

If they start acting hostile, try to stay calm. Arm-waving or other erratic behaviour will come off as an attack, and the magpie might get more aggressive.

Wear a large-brim hat, a helmet, or anything you can find to use as head protection, an ice cream container or even a cardboard box will do. You won't win any fashion prizes and you'll probably feel pretty silly, but desperate times mean desperate measures.

Otherwise carry an open umbrella, a stick, or a small branch above your head, but don’t go all Shaun of the Dead, and swing it at the magpie. They’re just birds, and this isn’t the zombie apocalypse. This method is to keep them at bay, not to provoke an attack. Just remember - magpies are protected so don't hit or hurt one!

The eye-contact thing is the reason we draw or sew eyes on our helmets and hats, since it might trick a magpie into thinking they’re being stared at. It works for some, not for others.

Another option is wearing your sunnies on the back of your head (turns out it’s not just a look reserved for the Australian cricket team).

If you’re getting attacked while cycling, get off your bike and walk quickly; the magpie will probably stop. Attach a bike flag, tall stick, or branch onto the back of your bike as an extra deterrent. Always wear sunnies to protect your eyes, so if you’re going for the sunnies-on-head trick, you’ll be needing a second pair. 

If the fake eyes don’t work, try sticking cable ties onto your bike helmet. Will this make you look ridiculous? Well, yeah. But it is one of the most tried-and-true methods as far as cyclists are concerned. There are a bunch of variations on this trick, like one design nicknamed ‘the pre-school project’ that uses brightly coloured pipe cleaners.

Make like a magpie and protect your friends

Once you’re safe, warn other people of the risk – put up a temporary sign, something like ‘Caution: magpie swooping area’.