Be alert, but not alarmed – swooping season is here.
Some native birds such as Magpies and Masked Lapwings (also know as plovers) occasionally swoop to protect their eggs and young during the breeding season (Spring).
To minimise the risk of being swooped please:
- Avoid swooping areas – Look for warning signs or visit the Victorian Government’s swooping bird location map.
- Be alert – If you must pass through the area – move quickly but do not run; running will draw more attention to yourself. Cyclists should dismount and walk through the area.
- Protect your head – Wear a hat or carry a stick or umbrella above your head.
Remember native birds are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975 so don’t try to scare or attack the bird.
Contact our Customer Service Team on 03 5272 5272 to report a bird swooping on Council land. We will place warning signs at the site and assess the behaviour of the bird.
Further information is available at the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) website.
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