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 film.Found in droves all over the country, such is their fanbase that in one 2017 poll magpies were voted Australia's favourite bird and massive shrines have been erected in their honour in two Australian cities.

But there are also plenty of people who struggle to get past their divebombing antics.The whir of flapping wings; the glint of a sharp beak in the sun; a flash of their reddish-brown eyes - all enough to strike fear in the hearts of many.The 21-year-old's local train station is vigilantly guarded by a magpie, and during breeding season it plays target practice with her head weekly."I don't know why it hated me, but it did… I never did anything wrong, I swear!"

Traditionally, they have been a plastic ice-cream container - with eyes drawn or stuck on - or a helmet laced with zip ties. In recent years though, they've become more elaborate. For example, contraptions rigged up with party poppers or adorned with a fake magpie.The best thing to do is avoid them. Authorities often erect signs, warning of magpies in the area, and some states have even launched apps designed to track sightings of nests.