Kellie - posted on 09/07/2011 ( 45 moms have responded )
The The National Parks and Wildlife Services ordered the Police to shoot dead a Magpie for Swooping and attacking a schoolgirl. The police have thankfully refused to do so and handed the issue back to the NPWS.
Magpies swoop and attack passing humans because the are protecting their young, not for shits and giggles. It is their defence and "Mummy Instinct" mechanism because they are perceiving a threat to their babies and are saying "LEAVE MY BABIES ALONE!"
As far as I know the only time Magpies attack is when they have a nest of young close by. I've been very close to these birds and never had an issue with them swooping or attacking me even when they do have a nest of young, because when it is nesting season and I see a Magpie I give them enough space so they aren't threatened by me.
Far out it's not that hard, why do we have to kill everything instead of respecting/understanding why the animals are behaving in that manner and taking precautions to minimise things like this happening?