Roz Beste has captured spectacular footage of being swooped in Wagga. Photo: Roz Beste.
Wagga cyclists are being swooped, repeatedly hit on the head and even left bleeding as a string of magpie attacks has been reported across the city and surrounding suburbs.
Magpie Alert – an online map that allows people to report and track swooping locations to warn others – shows the native birds have been active throughout Wagga (exact addresses listed below), with attacks reported as early as July.
There have been fewer attacks reported in other Riverina towns – three in Griffith, one in Narrandera and one in Tumut, where a magpie reportedly injured a person’s ear and stole an earphone.
Three of the reported Riverina attacks resulted in injuries.
Wagga cyclists Roz Beste, Dave Pearce, Phil Davidge and Josef Winkler have all told Region about repeated attacks that started in the middle of winter.
“I bought a full-face helmet for magpie season, so they can’t get to my face. Some of them hammer into my helmet very hard,” Mr Pearce said.
“I couldn’t believe it when I was attacked in July. Last year they kept going to November, so it’s a long season.”
Boorooma resident Lachie Johns, 11, has changed his routine for the past three months due to an aggressive bird on his street.
“I can’t walk or ride my bike to my friend’s house; I’ll get attacked. It’s terrifying. I get my Dad to drive me,” he said.
Charles Sturt University Associate Professor of Ecology and Ornithology Melanie Massaro said climate change and warmer winter temperatures were contributing to earlier breeding and longer swooping seasons.
During a cold winter, insects and other food sources are harder to find, making it difficult for birds to raise chicks.
But warmer conditions can bring insects and other small animals out earlier, giving magpies the food supply they need to start breeding sooner and triggering their aggressive behaviour against perceived threats to their chicks.
Below is a list of locations to watch out for in the Riverina, according to reports collected through Magpie Alert.
Josef Winkler under attack in Wagga. Photo: Supplied.
Wagga
27 Gibson St, Boorooma – 12 September 2026 – Cyclist reported being swooped while cycling.
Charles Sturt University – 11 September 2026 – Cyclist reported being swooped while riding.
Wagga Wagga St, Gobbagombalin – 11 September 2025 – Cyclist reported being swooped along the footpath. No injury reported.
5 Featherwood Rd, Springvale – 10 September 2026 – Runner reported one magpie swooping multiple times; no contact made.
26-36 Hardy Ave, Wagga – 4 September 2026 – Cyclist was swooped twice, with the second swoop nipping the ear and drawing blood.
Bakers Lane, East Wagga – 30 August 2026 – Cyclist on the bike path between Bakers Lane and Mitchell Road was swooped seven or eight times.
22 Kyeamba Ave, Lake Albert – 30 August 2026 – Cyclist reported very persistent swooping on the bike path, at least a dozen times; described as reasonably aggressive.
401 Kooringal Rd, East Wagga – 30 August 2026 – Cyclist reported a couple of half-hearted swoops on the bike path opposite the netball courts.
143-147 Fitzmaurice St, Wagga – 16 August 2026 – Cyclist was swooped and hit in the helmet about five times.
143-147 Fitzmaurice St, Wagga – 19 July 2026 – Cyclist was swooped three times while riding; nearby walkers were also caught by surprise.
99 Fitzmaurice St, Wagga – 19 July 2026 – Cyclist reported a very persistent magpie on the bike path striking the bike helmet multiple times.
Wagga’s magpie hotspot map. Birds that caused injury are marked in red. Source: Magpiealerts.com.
Griffith
52 Jondaryan Ave, Griffith – 29 August 2026 – Walker on the footpath was swooped three times by a magpie hiding on the powerlines. No injury reported.
69A Hillam Dr, Griffith – 28 August 2026 – One magpie was hiding on a light pole ready to swoop; reporter was not hit.
2 The Circle, Griffith 2680 – 26 August 2026 – Runner reported one very aggressive magpie that went straight for the head multiple times.
Narrandera
113 Larmer St, Narrandera – 29 August 2026 – Runner was swooped twice while running past. Report describes an aggressive magpie that will strike people in the back of the head.
Tumut
89 Capper St, Tumut – 5 September 2026 – Walker was swooped while walking past. The magpie injured the person’s ear and stole one of their earphones.
You can report an attack online at Magpie Alerts.
