Riv news bites

Swooping is a normal, temporary behaviour for native birds such as magpies, butcherbirds and masked lapwings to defend their eggs and chicks for a short time while their young are most vulnerable.

Think of it as a warning sign.

Here are some tips to feel safe, while also protecting our native birds: avoid known swooping hotspots; move quickly, but don’t run if near a swooping bird; wear protective head and eye coverings; don’t harass birds, as this can escalate swooping; and don’t feed birds or destroy their nests.

Report a swooping incident on Victoria’s interactive swooping bird map by visiting: wildlife.vic.gov.au/managing-wildlife/swooping-birds