The Surprising Ways to Stop Magpie Swooping

A guest post from Dr Chris Brown.

Why Do Magpies Swoop?

You just need to know something fascinating about them…

It’s the clacking of the beak for me. In fact, it’s often the only warning we get before a magpie swoops down and connects with the top of our head as we attempt to take the dog and run or cycle past. But rather than being anything vindictive or even territorial, that swooping (which is only performed by males!) has a very reasonable explanation.

It’s just a guy defending his chicks. That’s right, protecting a nest from someone they see as a threat accounts for 99% of all swooping. And almost all swoopers are male.

How to Stop Magpies from Swooping?

The key to ending swooping is knowing something special about magpies. You see, they all have a gift for remembering faces. It’s thought they can remember over 1000 different people faces and whether they’re a ‘friendly’ or a threat. It’s why it’s incredibly rare to be swooped in your own backyard. They know who you are! But if they don’t know you, they may swoop on suspicion.

But here’s how to achieve peace

First of all, at a safe distance, stand your ground. Then, when you can see the magpie, take off your hat and show them your friendly face - keeping your sunglasses on for safety initially. Let them see you, read your good intentions and then move on. Using umbrellas or lunging at them only inflames the situation and makes them truly believe you’re a problem.

And as much as you might be tempted to, don't ever feed magpies human food like mince meat, pet food soaked in water, bread, cheese, raw meat, or any processed foods like bacon or ham. These can cause serious health issues for the birds.