Magpie season: research finds birds will swoop the same person

Queensland
Magpie season: research finds birds will swoop the same person
DateSeptember 1, 2015
Leonie Thorne

Feel like magpies are picking on you? Photo: Jamila Toderas

If you feel like the magpie that swoops during the spring hates you, chances are it probably does.

Or at least, it's personal.

Research has found magpies are able to use facial recognition to determine who they target.

Griffith University behavioural ecologist Dr Darryl Jones said magpies were able to recognise people by their facial features, remember people who regularly passed through their territory, and could distinguish between those different people.


The discovery was made during a study in which a group of students wore masks near nesting areas, and swapped them day to day. The attacking magpies continued to fixate on particular masks, regardless of who was underneath it.

Bicycle Queensland chief executive Ben Wilson said the fact magpies were able to recognise and target people was "pretty frightening".

"There's no point fighting magpies since they specifically target the person they're fighting, so it's best to just avoid the route or dismount and walk," Mr Wilson said.

Dr Jones said while it could feel like magpies everywhere were bloodthirsty, only a small portion of magpies actually attacked people.

"Only around 10 per cent of magpies attack, and of that about half of them target pedestrians. The remaining half go for either cyclists or posties and there's a very, very small group of magpies that just attack everybody," said Dr Jones.

It remains unknown exactly why magpies target certain people over others, but if you are unlucky enough to be on the hit list there are several ways to defend yourself.

The Brisbane City Council website offers advice ranging from "do not try to kill the birds" to "do not touch a young bird," but also emphasises simply avoiding areas where magpies are breeding and nesting.

Another recommendation is to watch the incoming magpie while walking away quickly - a suggestion backed up by Dr Jones.

Mr Wilson said traditional cyclist methods such as attaching zip ties and googly eyes to your helmet are, based on research, "essentially useless, and make you look like a dork".

"Just avoid the area and keep your eyes protected, and if you do need to go through an area just dismount and walk through," Mr Wilson said.

Dr Jones offered some unconventional advice to prevent future attacks: feed them.

"This only works if you live within the magpies' territory ... if you find magpies in your street who recognise you, feed them very obviously and they will stop attacking," he said.

This technique is only effective on your regular magpies, and Dr Jones said feeding one-off bomber magpies at the park would not shield you from future attacks.

The sole reason magpies attack is to protect their young, discounting earlier theories that the onslaught is the result of defense of their territory.

"People think that come spring all magpies will attack you, but it's only when chicks are in the nest and only when you're near the nest," Dr Jones said.

So to reiterate the advice echoed by everyone: stay away from their nests and you'll be fine.

Swooping magpies can be reported to Brisbane City Council on 3403 8888, or add a note to the community resource Magpie Alert.




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http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/magpie-season-research-finds-birds-will-swoop-the-same-person-20150831-gjbwqm.html
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