{"id":244924,"date":"2019-09-24T19:44:46","date_gmt":"2019-09-24T09:44:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=244924"},"modified":"2020-07-16T16:16:42","modified_gmt":"2020-07-16T06:16:42","slug":"council-acts-on-trail-magpies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2019\/09\/24\/council-acts-on-trail-magpies\/","title":{"rendered":"Council Acts On Rail Trail Magpies"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Recent magpie swooping target Jason Ford with Deputy Mayor Kathy Duff, Eric Spicer, from Glenrock; and Cr Ros Heit at the Taste The Trail cycling event on the South Burnett Rail Trail earlier this year<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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One of the new temporary warning signs erected by the South Burnett Regional Council to advise Rail Trail users to watch out for magpies<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

September 24, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

The South Burnett Regional Council has acted quickly to alert Rail Trail users to swooping magpies.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, Council posted temporary warning signs on the trail.<\/p>\n

The signs advise users to take care during magpie breeding season, which lasts from late August until mid-October.<\/p>\n

Deputy Mayor Kathy Duff said she had recently received several complaints from residents about the birds.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In particular, reports of a very aggressive bird nesting near Meiers Road at Crawford had prompted her to explore possible solutions.<\/p>\n

Cr Duff said she had examined rehoming the bird but it proved too costly and unreliable, since other magpies could take over a vacant nesting site.<\/p>\n

Instead, Rail Trail users will be advised to take care by temporary signs.<\/p>\n

The signs suggest users should walk – not run – quickly through the magpie area; wear protective headwear and sunglasses; and not act aggressively.<\/p>\n

Cyclists are also advised to dismount to appear less threatening to the birds.<\/p>\n

Cr Duff said the recent death of a 76-year-old cyclist in Wollongong who was trying to avoid a swooping magpie raised legitimate public safety concerns.<\/p>\n

According to the SBRTUA, most magpies will only defend an area of about 110 metres – or 360 feet – around their nesting site.<\/strong><\/p>\n

SBRTUA secretary Jason Wyeth said the group was aware of several swooping sites along the trail this season.<\/p>\n

He advised anyone with concerns to delay a trip along the trail until the end of the breeding season or to travel outside daylight hours when the birds are asleep.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

On Wednesday, South Burnett Mayor Keith Campbell said that in addition to the Meiers Road sign, warning signs have also been posted at other locations unconnected with the Rail Trail.<\/strong><\/p>\n

These include Memorial Park and O’Neill Square in Kingaroy, and several other sites where residents have reported swooping problems.<\/p>\n

“If people are impacted by magpies in other locations, they should contact Council if they would like a sign put up as an alert,” the Mayor said.<\/p>\n

“The signs are precautionary only and there will no attempt to relocate the magpies.<\/p>\n

“It is, after all, their breeding season.”<\/p>\n