magpie swoopings on dogs

[Susanne Gardiner <>]

My dog, a something-or-the-other-mix in brindle colours and very stripey gets swooped by miners, but not by magpies. In fact the magpies in Dickson couldn't care less. They don't bother to stop feeding on the playing fields just because a dog is running around and fairly close. Must be used to dogs around that area. 

I haven't had magpies swooping on me (on bicycle, birding or dog walk) for a few years now. (Touch wood). 

A couple of days ago, a raven (crow?) was calmly shadowing a remote control plane over Dickson playing field for quite a while, eventually deciding that it wasn't a threat. The plane's span was bigger than that of the bird and it hat a slight motor noise. 

I was watching to see if it would attack, like they attack eagles, but in the end it just flew off. I think, the plane's operator was quite relieved. 

Susanne

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From: mariko buszynski <>

My previous dog which looked like a dingo (with foxy colour?) was so frequently swooped by magpies that she learned to take cover under thick shrubs.  In the worst affect area, Federal Colf Course, she ran from a shrub to shrub.  In the same area I saw a Golden retriever harassed by magpies as well.  My current dog, white terrier mix, is regularly swooped by noisy miners but not by magpies.