A Perth council is swooping in on the magpie epidemic in a particular park

AN aggressive magpie has left two young children with horrific eye injuries. But a quirk in the law may mean nothing is done.

Shireen Khalil

news.com.au SEPTEMBER 28, 20187:14AM

THERE is one magpie causing extreme havoc in the City of Stirling in Perth and the council wants a license to cull the offending bird.

The council took action after attacks in Clarko Reserve, a grassy beachside park, left two Perth children with severe eye injuries and others with scratched faces.

City of Stirling parks and sustainability manager Ian Hunter said the council would apply to the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions to eradicate the offending bird.

“After assessing events over the weekend, the City has determined that recent magpie attacks at Clarko Reserve have been ongoing and of a serious nature, and will apply to DBCA for a dangerous fauna licence to remove the offending bird,” Mr Hunter said in a statement.

A DBCA spokesman told news.com.au that once a license is approved, an animal control agent will conduct an assessment of the problem magpie and if deemed a threat, it will then be taken out with a firearm.

“As assessment is made on site. No bird is ever destroyed without an assessment being made,” the spokesperson said. “Generally the control agent will visit the location, and watch its behaviour, signs of swooping and aggression.”

Mr Hunter added that if there was evidence of ongoing aggressive behaviour from magpies in a City park or reserve, the City could investigate and work with the DBCA to discuss preventive measures, going forward.

Perth Now reported that a magpie narrowly missed a five-year-old’s eye when it swooped her yesterday in Clarko Reserve, near where two small children were pecked in the eyes just days before.

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