Ferocious and feathered, now is the time when magpies and plovers are attacking people in the streets of Goulburn.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The magpie swooping season starts in September and runs for about six weeks, meaning the onslaught is set to continue for some time.
Magpies are protected and they are only protecting their young when the swoop at people approaching their nests.
The Goulburn Post has been fielding many distress signals from readers on its Facebook page.
So in the quest to alert others to local magpie hot spots, we asked readers for their feedback and they shared their attack horror stories with us and told us the spots to avoid.
Here is the consensus about where the birds are attacking in Goulburn.
Plovers (masked lapwings) are attacking in the Goulburn Cemetery (so there is no peace when you visit your departed loved ones), in Godfrey St, the corner of Ducks Lane & Hume St, near the Woolworth's Caltex Servo – where apparently they even swoop cars.
“Cnr Ducks Lane & Hume St, near the Woolworth's Caltex Servo...Plover's on the prowl,” wrote Dee Becroft.
“This one swoops cars leaving the servo,” added Adam Greenough.
“Plovers are really bad at Glbn cemetery. Nasty little buggers they are, worse than magpies,” wrote Sherry Granger.
Speaking of magpies those black and white terrors are swooping unsuspecting walkers in Derwent St, the Police Academy, the Skate Park in Victoria Park, Mary’s Mount Road near the dam, the Middle Arm Rd, Range Rd, Pomeroy Rd, Bungonia Rd, Windellama Rd and behind the PCYC on the Wollondilly Walking Track.
Readers also let us in on a few tips about how to avoid being attacked. Some sound bizarre, but here they are anyway:
“If you cover your hat in aluminium foil it confuses them so they won't attack. Side benefit is it also stops the aliens stealing your thoughts,” wrote Brian Hill.
“Aliens don't steal your thoughts they just scan the brain for information, then block your memory so you forget that event,” replied Alexandria Moonstar.
She also added: “I am in an area with a nest at the front door, never had a problem. I call them over and they come and eat food out of my hands. I have also walked through parks where people are attacked and I have still never been attacked.”
Tammy Funnell wrote: “They only attack if there is a nest close by or new born babies.”
One person on the Goulburn Post Facebook site suggested that magpies “only attack bad people.”
We can not verify this.
Other tips for avoiding swooping bird attacks include: wearing a hat, taking an umbrella, wear glasses, walk your bike, don’t run, watch the magpie as you go through their territory.