'My biggest fear is that it might attack more kids': Mum of girl attacked by magpie warns other parents
A Perth mother whose young daughter was attacked by a magpie at a park in Perth's north has spoken out over fears that more children could be in danger.
It's less than a week since a one-year-old boy was hospitalised following a similar ordeal.
Two-year-old Asha O'Leary's mother has documented her daughter's injuries, which include cuts and scratches.
This magpie attack happened at Jackadder Lake in Woodlands.
Asha's mother Helen said her daughter was riding her scooter when the magpie flew up from the ground, rather than swooping from above.
"Usually when a magpie is being aggressive it's a swooping behaviour, so jumping up from the ground is really unusual behaviour," University of Western Australia ecologist Dr Amanda Riley said.
Mrs O'Leary said the bird that attacked her toddler was missing part of its beak.
"My biggest fear is that it might attack more kids," she said.
"I know of about four other attacks through Facebook within only two days by the same bird that's quite identifiable."
So far there have been 31 reported swooping attacks in WA this year, four of which have resulted in serious injury.
One-year-old Jacob Gale could be left blind in one eye after he was pecked at Whiteman Park last week.
'Don't kill the magpie': Parent of swooped boy at risk of blindness in one eye
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It is thought that only around 10 per cent of magpies attack during swooping season, but experts advise that people should protect themselves by wearing a hat and sunglasses, and avoiding known swooping areas.
