Seasonal Animal Advice

 Australian magpies breed as a pair, maintaining their territory throughout the year and are supported by a family group consisting of juveniles raised from previous years. Adults can form long-lasting pair bonds and maintain the same territory for many years.

They lay their eggs mostly between August and December and during breeding season males are known to sometimes actively defend their territory against real or perceived threats to their eggs. This behaviour is short term and only lasts until the chicks become fledglings.

Magpies have excellent memories and are believed to be able to distinguish between people and so can identify unknown individuals whom they perceive as intruders. When they recognise someone as a permanent resident of their territory, such as in backyards, they are often more tolerant.

When defending their nest a magpie will begin with a warning to the intruder that they are coming too close to their nest by firstly carolling, then clapping their beak and swooping. If the intruder doesn’t retreat, magpies may swoop even closer and eventually make contact if they feel the nest is under immediate threat.  read more

WIRES receives hundreds of calls from people concerned because they see a snake on their property. As the weather warms up there may be more frequent sightings of reptiles.  read more

Strong winds and heavy rain can put wildlife under extreme stress.

How you can help:

After the storm has passed and it is safe to do so please check under trees for fallen chicks, nests or injured birds. There have also been many flying-foxes entangled in backyard fruit tree netting, made worse this year by the severe natural food shortages up and down the east coast of Australia. If you see an injured young or adult flying-fox please do not touch, call WIRES immediately for assistance 1300 094 737. read more

The wild weather and winds across NSW today can bring down trees and nests and separate young and vulnerable chicks and joeys from their parents.
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While most native animals are well adapted to changes in climatic conditions they can still suffer during heatwaves.  Animals can cope with extremes in temperatures they are used to, but if these extremes are unusual for a particular area the animals there will struggle.  read more

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Strong winds and heavy rain can put wildlife under extreme stress. read more

The wild weather and winds across NSW today could not have come at a worse time for wildlife. read more