Australian Magpies are found where there is a combination of trees and open areas, including parks and playing fields.
Magpies are territorial and defend their territories from other magpies and potential predators. Unfortunately, some magpies see humans as a potential threat and swoop down occasionally making contact.
Only a small amount of Magpies behave like this. Some of these aggressive magpies will only swoop on particular people or become aggressive during breeding season when defending their territories and chicks.
For most of the year people and magpies happily co-exist, sharing open space and backyards. For a few weeks of the year, the safety of a magpie’s young becomes its primary concern. They may no longer be willing to share the area surrounding their nest and chicks.
