Magpie swooping: Inside the Australian bird's annual reign of terror
These are some of the ominous warnings issued in Australia each spring, as magpies and humans begin their annual turf war.Streets and parks become a battleground, as the birds - descending from above and attacking from behind - swoop down on anything they fear poses a threat to their offspring.Magpies are arguably the country's most polarising bird. High up in their nests, they rule over their kingdom with an iron claw, while on the ground, humans dust off their protective hats - traditionally a plastic ice-cream container - and duck for cover.At times drawing blood, their ambushes can cause serious injuries, and in a handful of cases, death.But experts claim magpies are misunderstood and humans are the aggressors.And they want you to know peace is possible. One Sydney family even credits a rescued chick named Penguin with helping them recover from a catastrophic accident, a heart-warming tale which grabbed global headlines and has since been turned into a best-selling book and a f...