Spring has sprung: Please be magpie aware this swooping season!
Published on 12 September 2025
Rockhampton Regional Council is encouraging residents to be magpie aware, with peak swooping season on now until October.
The magpie breeding season runs from August until November and residents are advised to take precautions while out and about.
Planning and Regulation Councillor Grant Mathers said magpies are a familiar part of life in our suburbs, but magpie’s protective instincts can often take people off guard when walking or riding around our streets, and enjoying our local playgrounds.
“Swooping is natural behaviour for magpies trying to defend their nests,” Cr Mathers said.
“They’re not being aggressive for the sake of it—they’re simply trying to protect their young from what they perceive as threats in an area around 100 to 200 metres from their nests.”
“All swooping birds found in the Region are native animals, and it is an offence to harm, interfere or relocate them.
“However, if there is a known problem on Council-owned land, please contact Council so we can put signage out to warn others.
“As the peak season lasts six weeks, the best course of action is to avoid that area where possible.
“If you must travel on the path of a known swooping bird, ensure you take an umbrella, wear a hat and sunglasses and try and walk in groups.”
The best way to avoid being swooped is to:
- Avoid swooping hotspots by finding an alternative route, if possible
- If you are riding your bike, dismount and walk when passing through a swooping zone and attach a flag on a long pole to your bike
- Protect yourself by wearing a broad-brimmed hat, using an umbrella, or holding your school bag above your head
- Wear glasses or sunglasses to protect your eyes
- Team up with others and walk in a group
- Avoid threatening or scaring nesting birds, as this will increase the intensity of swooping.
If you have a concern in relation to swooping birds on Council-managed land, please contact Council’s Customer Service Centre on 4932 9000 or 1300 22 55 77.
The State Government Department of Environment and Science can issue a permit for the removal and relocation of problem wildlife – a Damage Mitigation Permit – and this may be actioned by an authorised contractor after a complaint has been investigated.
Visit our website to find out more about swooping birds and important contacts.