Frequently asked questions

Keep the bird quiet, still and warm. Remove any threat to the bird (lock up your cat or dog). Wrap it in a towel or blanket and gently place it into a secure and well-ventilated box, and keep it in a warm, dark room. Make sure not to disturb it, and definitely do not attempt to feed it.

Contact your nearest Wildlife Rescue representative, who will take the injured bird and care for it.

Contact details are:

•     ACT (02) 6299 1966
•     NSW 1300 094 737
•     NT (08) 8988 6121
•     QLD(07) 5527 2444
•     TAS (03) 6233 6556
•     VIC 1300 223 427
•     WA (08) 9334 0333

Firstly it is important to remember that Magpies are native wildlife, so it is illegal to harm them. It is also important to remember that they only swoop at people for two or three weeks during the nesting season.  This is mainly during the period when the young birds have just left the nest and are being protected by their parents.

Many people find that being swooped by a Magpie is a traumatic experience. The simple and best solution is to avoid the area for a few weeks. If this is impracticable, the best defence is to wear a hat with images of eyes on the back of it; as Magpies usually only attack from behind, the eyes will make the bird think you are looking at it and will not swoop.  Another method is to hold a stick above your head, and the Magpie will not harm you. Cyclists may attach stiff plastic strips to their helmets (so they project about 10-15 cm above the helmet), and this will have the same effect.  If you have tried all of these suggestions and they have not worked for you, and the swooping Magpies constitute a genuine public nuisance, your local state conservation department may be able to assist you, though this is at the discretion of individual wildlife officers. Remember, it is illegal to harm Magpies.

Common Mynas are introduced to Australia in the 19th century, and have become one of the most invasive species in the country.  They take over nesting hollows that are usually occupied by native birds and mammals, sometimes violently evicting the native occupants. When they breed in buildings their nests often pose fire hazards or block guttering, and they pose a direct threat of disease.

The best way to get rid of Common Mynas is to deprive them of their feeding and nesting requirements. For example, if your pet hasn't finished its food, don't leave the bowl out for the Mynas to finish it off for them. Left-over pet food is a common source of nourishment for these pests.  To stop Mynas nesting around your house, block off all possible points of entry to the roof.  If they attempt to nest in nesting boxes intended for native species, redesign the entrance hollow to block off direct access, as Mynas will only fly directly to the hole, while parrots are happy to climb up to the hole to enter it.  If they try to nest in your garage or shed, you must persist in removing the nest material, sometimes three or four times each day. After a week the Mynas will have given up.  Persistence pays off.  You may also like to trap individual birds, but you must ensure that they are treated humanely. The Canberra Indian Myna Action Group has many hints on how to do this.

The most recently published list of birds that have been recorded in Australia shows that there have been 867 species recorded so far. This list, however, is slowly growing as birdwatchers increasingly head out into more and more remote areas and discover new birds.  Some areas, such as Christmas Island and Ashmore Reef, both closer to Indonesia than mainland Australia, are places where new birds regularly turn up, usually having flown across the sea from Asia, but birds that are new to the Australian list can turn up almost anywhere, even close to our major cities.

As the primary interest of BirdLife Australia is wild, native birds, we do not deal with issues or questions related to cage birds.

You should contact the Avicultural Society of Australia on (03) 5787 1292 for information on all your avicultural needs.

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As an independent non-profit organisation that relies on philanthropic funding, your support is crucial to our ability to develop and implement conservation projects that preserve and protect Australia’s native birds and the habitats that sustain them. Such private support allows us to operate independently, free of external constraints.

BirdLife Australia receives funding, in the form of tied grants, for specific projects from Government, and from private philanthropic trusts and foundations. This is greatly appreciated as it enables us to develop additional projects or enhance existing ones as necessary, and as indicated by the results of current monitoring and evaluation work.

We also have a strong desire to partner with like-minded businesses on multi-year conservation programs that deliver positive and measureable environmental and social outcomes. We promote and support staff Workplace Giving programs and encourage companies to match such gifts where appropriate.

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Thanks to the generous support of people just like you, BirdLife Australia is a leader in research-based conservation and has been successfully protecting Australia’s native birds for over 110 years.

Your financial contribution will help to protect and preserve Australia's birds through:

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