Public warned of Taiwan blue magpie attacks

民眾當心台灣藍鵲的襲擊

Class 3 protected species can strike humans during brooding season


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A New Taipei's Sanxia District resident recently reported being attacked by a Taiwan blue magpie while walking on a sidewalk.

The New Taipei Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office went to the scene and placed notices advising the public to avoid blue magpie breeding areas as much as possible. Citizens were also encouraged to protect their heads with hats or umbrellas, per a New Taipei press release.

As of May, nine cases have been reported of blue magpies attacking pedestrians due to their chicks being raised nearby. The brooding season runs from April to August each year, a time when the blue magpie is most prone to defensive behavior.

An endemic bird species that likes to move in groups and lives in forests at medium and low altitudes, the blue magpie can be found in either mountainous areas or the suburbs of New Taipei. Yangmingshan's Chinese Culture University is also known to have a group of aggressive blue magpies that regularly attack students and professors.

The bird exhibits strong protective behavior when raising chicks. It will actively attack intruders that approach the nest area, which typically lasts for five to six weeks, after which time the chicks will leave the nest and find another habitat.

Municipal authorities remind the public that the Taiwan blue magpie is a Class 3 protected species. Removing nests or chicks or disturbing its habitat may violate the Wildlife Conservation Act with a maximum punishment of two years imprisonment, detention, or a fine up to NT$500,000 (US$17,000).

The New Taipei Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office said the blue magpie is part of a diverse ecosystem that includes rare birds such as peregrine falcons, painted snipes, and fairy pittas.

Those who come across an injured bird or one lacking parental care, please dial 1999 or 1959.