The Department of Environment and Water are urging locals to stay alert and be cautious around magpie nests, with breeding season officially underway.
Females typically lay between 3 to 5 eggs from August to October, with the male magpies taking on the protective role.
Magpies will choose to swoop if they sense a threat, and with their excellent memories and facial recognition will remember what any potential threat will look like.
Department for Environment and Water Principal Ecologist Karl Hillyard says the best way to not get swooped is to avoid the area altogether.
“Although it can be frightening, swooping is nothing malicious. It is just part of a magpie’s natural instinct to protect their chicks,” Dr Hillyard says.
“However, magpies typically only defend within about a 100-metre radius of their nests so you can avoid getting swooped by taking a detour around known nest sites if you can,” Dr Hillyard said.
Other tips include travelling in groups, wearing wide brim hats and sunglasses, carrying an open umbrella and acting in a calm manner.
Listen below to Dr Hillyard’s chat with ARN‘s Chris Guscott on Around SA.