Swooped Again

It's dangerous walking at this time of the year. Spring time is magpie swooping season, when normally placid birds become fiercely territorial. ...

In Narrabri, we are used to magpies swooping- it's a fact of life. Some areas are avoided. Sticks and umbrellas are carried, ice-cream buckets used as protective helmets.

In coastal areas the plover can be just as territorial. They tend to swoop with a warning call so, unlike magpies, you know they are coming.

In nearly 20 years of living in Narrabri, I have never been swooped by a plover. I figured that it was becasue there is generally not much water lying around here so that they don't feel quite so possessive of any territory.

Today I was swooped by a plover as I was walking along the Gunnedah Road. It was quite a surprise, but I think it's related too the huge amounts of water in the area. Perhaps they are breeding at the moment.

I hope all these birds resume normal behaviour soon.[/color]