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Vol 2, No 39
MAGPIE LOOKOUT
Children attacked by Magpies ■ BY MARIANNE KELLY
T
he spring nesting season habit of magpie swooping has hit Howick Domain over the past few weeks and four-yearold William Gray has the lacerations to prove it. William and his mother Gemma are among the regulars at the domain playground on the corner of Moore and Howe Streets. They’ve noticed the aggressive behaviour of the magpies. But when William moved onto the grassed area one magpie swooped in resulting in lacerations close to his eye. “He’s fine and the scratches will heal,” Mrs Gray says. “But it’s as if the birds have claimed the entire Howick Domain with their patrolling. They are terrorizing young families. “It’s a shame because we live in a townhouse and for my kids this is like their backyard.” The Times arranged to meet Mrs Gray and William at the Domain and within minutes of William setting off to the play area he was again swooped on. It gives credence to the advice not to be surprised if a bird comes back for another attack. Australian magpies have an incredible memory and will attack the same people again and again. At the same time three-year-old
William Gray, left, and Patrick Saunders, have been victims of a territorial magpie in Howick Domain.
Patrick Saunders was dive-bombed by a bird as he ventured onto the Domain’s playing fields. Auckland Council has erected a temporary sign saying: “Please
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be aware of aggressive magpies. Magpies nesting in the area during breeding season.” Malcolm Harrison, the council’s senior regional bio-security advisor
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– animals, says magpies are a well-established bird within New Zealand’s natural environment. “As many of our parks have trees that magpies find suitable
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