I throw bread out to our magpies. The saying goes that if you feed them they will remember your face for 30 years and won’t attack you. It seems to work.

i am terrified of magpies so i would just not go out in the backyard during spring.. sorry not very helpful but its want I would do!

I’d try wearing hats covered in shiny foil.

Pretty sure there’s nothing you can do til nesting season is done. Unless the council agree to move them for the kids sake. Plover season has just started here, they swoop too, not good :/

Watch them! The magpies, not the kids they won’t swoop while you’re watching them

There are some swooping near where I live, so far I have not been bothered, so I peeked to see what people do to ward them off. What wonderful and creative answers!

Put out some scarecrows, get the kids to wear a hat with a face on or soemthing hanging from it, zip ties wtc,

Tennis racquet. Once they get bounced they won’t be back!

Ask the council what you can do! I’d avoid the backyard until then!

I bought a Tiger kids plush toy that was the size of a three year old. You know the ones that you win at the country fair. I put that in our back yard and the birds avoid the area. I did that as the birds thought camping under our pergola was cosy. NOT ANY MORE! I suggest that this would work with the magpies too. Try looking in op.shops for these stuffed animals. I think the big eye’s scare the birds. How about making a scare-crow and placing in the back yard. I’d place some tomato stakes around your back yard and some old cassette tape tied to them making a flag type annoying the birds. You could recycle plastic shopping bags by cutting strips and stapling them to make an annoying sound they might just disappear and leave your kids alone.

Oh dear…this is pretty bad if its in your own backyard.
I think I would try calling the council as others have suggested…Point out to them that you have small children and they are being attacked in your own back yard and that you are worried that one of your children will be seriously harmed.

the old icecream bucket on your head, add a battery operated fan on top and it might clip them into leaving you alone too.

there are some good comments here

Some good suggestions there below.

Can the council do anything to help?

Call council and see if they can relocate them?

They were pretty bad this year – I saw one following a motorbike rider and swooping him! Eyes and cable ties seem to be the best bet.

these are good ideas

I’ve never had this problem :/ hope you find a solution! Sounds scary.

i got told if you keep looking at them but that never worked for me