Swooping season has begun as magpies protect their young

Magpies are very protective parents and will swoop anything the see as a potential intruder.
 

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is reminding people that it’s the time of the year when there is an increased risk of swooping magpies. 

The NPWS receives many phone calls about swooping magpies at this time of year, and reports have already been received from around the Sydney.

`Warning swooping magpies sign at Alpha Park.

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Magpies are very protective parents and they may swoop anyone seen as an intruder who might harm their chicks.

In the vast majority of cases the swooping is simply bluff, however sometimes people can receive minor head injuries as a result of swooping magpies.

Wear a hat or helmet to protect yourself from swooping magpies.

WALK, DON'T PROVOKE

There are a few things that people can do to reduce risks of magpie swoops:

■ Walk away from the area and warn others about risky locations.

■ Don’t provoke the birds.

■ Wear a hat or helmet to protect your head.

■ Hold an umbrella or stick above your head to deter attacks but don’t swing it at the magpie as this will only provoke it to attack.

■ Hurry past nesting sites confidently and quickly or better still, avoid nesting sites.

■ If on a bike, dismount to avoid falling off, and move away quickly.

The protective behaviour lasts only a few weeks. For the rest of the year the magpie is peaceful and valuable as an insect eater, renowned for its pleasant warbling.

Magpies are a protected species and it is against the law to kill them, collect their eggs, or harm their young.

For great rates on pest control anywhere in Sydney, call us today on 1300 08 25 52

Or visit our website at: www.Provenpest.com.au
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10 must-know handy household hints

10 must-know handy household hints

Did you know that separating bananas from the bunch makes them last longer?

Or that the best way to reheat a pizza (so it retains its crispy base) is to warm it in a fry pan?

No? Then read on because these must-know household hints will change your life!

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Handy hint 1  - bananarama

Pull bananas apart before displaying them in your fruit bowl. If you leave them connected at the stem, they'll ripen faster and go brown quicker. Who knew?!

Handy hint 2 - flexible vacuum

To suck up hard-to-reach gunk under your fridge, or behind a bookshelf, insert an empty paper towel roll into the end of your vacuum cleaner and bend, or flatten it, to squeeze into these difficult spots.

Handy hint 3 - buying capsicum

We're not sure why, but a capsicum with three bumps on the bottom is sweeter than one with four. Oh, but four bumps makes for a crunchier, firmer capsicum, so you should weigh up crunch vs. sweet when picking out your pepper!

Handy hint 4 - fend off weeds

Instead of tossing your daily rag in the recycling bin, use the newspaper as mulch and deter noxious weeds. Simply wet the sheets and put the layers around your plants and garden beds, covering with soil as you go. The weeds won't be able to get through the wet newspaper layers.

Handy hint 5 - so cheesey

Wrap cheese chunks in aluminium foil and store in the fridge to keep your cheddar fresher for longer and to keep mould out.

Handy hint 6 - mozzies be gone!

If you have the kind of blood that attracts mosquitoes like a moth to a flame, then listen up. To keep the pesky blood suckers at bay, place a fabric softener dryer sheet in your pocket. Mosquitoes are repelled by the scent and you'll smell like summer breeze all night!

Handy hint 7 - crispy leftover pizza

To reheat a pizza so that the base is out-of-the-oven crisp, heat your leftover slices in a fry pan on low-medium heat on the stove until warm and wave goodbye to the days of soggy microwave pizza.

Handy hint 8 - reopening envelopes

If you seal an envelope and realise you've forgotten to include something inside, just place it in the freezer for an hour or two and voila, the envelope will unseal without a trace!

Handy hint 9 - the power of garlic

Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a subtle taste and towards the end to blast it with flavour.

Handy hint 10 - getting rid of ants

It may sound cruel, but if you have an ant problem, desperate times call for desperate measures. Put small piles of polenta where you see ants and they'll gobble it up, return 'home' and won't be able to digest it. Your ant problem (and the ants) will soon be dead.

For great rates on pest control, call us today on 1300 08 25 52

Or visit our website at: www.Provenpest.com.au