Swooping season is a thing
The magpie bird is about as common in Australia as pigeons are in Europe or the U.S. Magpies are considered one of the smartest animals in the world, and they can be just as irritating as pigeons. During the magpie’s breeding season (or mating period), the birds are extremely agitated, which means they are dangerous and more likely to attack people.
The breeding season, which usually takes place between the months of August to October, is also known as swooping season since the birds swoop to the ground and attack innocent passersby. Their intentions aren’t malicious – they’re simply acting on paternal instincts, trying to protect their nests. As a way to avoid the potential swooping, cyclists around the country usually wear protective helmets during the magpie breeding season, to fend off the birds.