Magpie Swooping 2024 - Statistics & Insights

As another magpie swooping season draws to a close I thought you may appreciate some stats we've gathered this season.

Magpie swooping attack counts each week 2024

This year swooping appears to have started right on schedule across the majority of our states compared to the previous 6 year average. NSW & ACT started in line with the 6 year average but then had a higher rates of swoops mid August. We can see that swoops start dropping off a week earlier than the average but then picks up again in alignment with the average. Don't lower your guards just yet, it's not completely over and the website is still receiving approximately 10 swoops a day, so keep alert.

Overall there was a similar number of swoops registered on the website this year compared to last year.

At time of writing this email there have been 3384 swooping magpies registered with 437 (13%) causing injuries.

Magpie swooping attack counts by State 2024

Numbers wise, this year it have been pretty much even stevens between Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Queenslanders recorded the most injuries with a 14% injury rate which also reduced by 2% this year.

15% of the swoops recorded from Australian Capital Territory resulted in injuries, 14% from Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia with New South Wales at 10% and South Australia at a chilled 8%. We had our first Tassie swoops this year recorded this week so they have snuck onto the graph with only 3 injury free swoops! Even though WA had a higher injury rate the numbers for the state they were still were very low compared to others. Are the birds in SA a little more relaxed this year or are people under reporting the no contact swoops in the other states..

This Years Top 10 Angry Birds

This year there's been some big hitters recorded, let's take a look at those birds doing the most damage:

1	Woden Valley cycle paths and along Yarra Glen & the creek, ACT Not a happy valley if you head down these paths in the spring! This is one angry bird, 42 swoops registered with 15 injuries! Swoops all ages and will attack any part of the body!! One female cyclist even fell off her bike during an attack and sustained a fracture to her right collar bone. Stay clear of this one next year!
2	Ormond Park, Moonee Ponds Creek Trail VIC 11 injuries! This serial attacker has a particular liking for cyclists' ears! Attacking year after year, avoid this path in the spring unless wearing protection!
3	Princes Park, North Carlton VIC 7 injuries, mostly attacks children walking to the park! Goes for the head, parents best avoid taking the kids to this park in the spring.
4	Parry St, Cooks Hill NSW 100% injury hit rate! This bird's injury tally this season is 7 injuries from 7 swoops!! Stay clear of this one next year!
5	Darenin Creek Trail, Bundoora VIC Careful with this one as he comes in fast and hard! 6 injuries this year!
6	Tishler St, Wright ACT Only 9 swoops recorded but 6 of those resulting in injuries.
7	John Gorton Dr, Coombs ACT 6 injuries from 9 swoops, an odd MO this one goes for necks, yes necks!
8	Federation Trail, Werribee VIC 6 injuries, persistant and aggressive, targets cyclists ears! 6 injuries from 7 swoops reported this year.
9	Gateway North Bikeway, Banyo QLD This bird is particularly vicious and persistent, targets cyclists ears! 5 injuries from 14 swoops this year.
10	Old Northern Rd, Everton Park QLD This bird attacks back of the heads! 5 injuries out of 10 this year!

2024 Injuries: This year the majority of injuries were cuts and bruises to ears and cheeks, some were unfortunate to sustain broken collarbones, wrists and a broken elbow from falling from their bikes while under attack.

Reviewing the top 10 angriest birds was a bit of a job as there are so many to choose from, there were some suprises this year with some birds being particularly aggressive. With currently less than 10 swoops being reported daily we can soon return to business as usual and wish the new magpie parents luck with their fledglings.

This winter I set about spending my evenings and wet weekends giving the website a good makeover with a fresh new look with some added some extra functionality too, I do hope you like the changes I've made. If you have any feedback or suggestions for future enhancements please email me on admin@magpiealert.comand and I'll see what I can do.

I'd like to thank you all for using the website over the years and recording your swoops too! The website only works through your participation, and without your support the service would not be tenable. So a big THANK YOU from me!

Kind regards,

Jon Clark
Magpie Alert Founder, Coder & Administrator

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