For those new to the territory, magpies and their swooping behaviour often comes as a surprise, and are forced to learn the hard way.
The president of the International Students' Department at the Australian National University, Rishika Agrawal, says students are often unaware of the garden city's monochromatic songbird.
Ms Agrawal says students would not know where to go for help after being attacked by a magpie, and there "should be special measures for anyone being swooped or pecked".
But with the current shortage of GP appointments, Ms Agrawal says "immediate help is not feasible", and prevention is better than cure.
The Canberra Times has reported more than 90 years of magpie attacks, from 1927 to present day. Here is a trip down memory lane and a look at some of Canberra's notable exchanges with magpies.
Fighting tooth and nail: 1927
For many years, magpies have been believed to be kleptomaniacs, and master thieves of shiny objects.
In January 1927, in its 19th edition, The Canberra Times reported a theft where a magpie flew off with something of a vital possession for a farmer in Grafton, NSW.
"A farmer at work in a paddock took out his false teeth, and placed them on a stump," the article reads.
"He had hardly started work again when a magpie swooped down, picked up the teeth, for which he had no earthly use, and flew with them to the highest branch of a tree."
The understandably frustrated farmer reached for his firearm. It was reported the farmer was "too excited to shoot straight", and missed the shot as the bird flew away with his false teeth high in the sky, never to be seen again.
The magpie war: 1942
On September 3, 1942, stories of World War II dominated the newspaper. But on page three, other plans were being laid out. Something closer to home and completely unimaginable today - plans by the Department of Interior to banish magpies from Canberra's city centre, under a renewal of 1941's "magpie blitz".
"Owing to recent attacks by magpies upon residents of Canberra, steps will shortly be taken to drive these birds from within the city area."
But authorities weren't too barbaric, they assured the public magpies will be "allowed back into the city" after the nesting period had elapsed, and that nests would be destroyed only before any eggs were laid. The paper of 1942 reminded readers that magpies "are otherwise useful birds in a garden city".
By 1943, the department had more pressing matters to deal with, and it is believed magpies continued to nest across the city without interference the following spring.
An eye-popping attack: 1949
1949's reprisal of the annual springtime swooping campaign in Canberra began August 23 with a key diplomat being targeted in Braddon.
Indonesia's primary diplomat in Australia, Dr Usman Sastroamidjojo, was walking down Mort Street when a magpie drew blood after pecking him above the eye.
The Canberra Times reported if the peck had been less than a centimetre lower, the representative for Indonesia may have lost his vision. The news story said nesting season often began in August, and many birds "become vicious".
Dr Usman returned to Indonesia after the nation was admitted as a member of the United Nations, with his vision intact.
Swooping no child's play: 1950
In late September 1950, several birds were "destroyed" by inspectors from the Department of the Interior after children were attacked by magpies at a Reid play centre.
Just metres from where Dr Usman was attacked on Mort Street, a bird behind what was then the Civic Theatre also attacked passersby.
A woman fell off her bicycle after being swooped in Civic, where City Walk is located today, and several others were forced to dash to safety, often after being pecked.
The Canberra Times also reported other nests in Forrest and Braddon were dismantled after repeated attacks.
Place in the pecking order: 1985
Fast forward to 1985, when Canberra hosted the fourth IAAF World Cup, athletes from all around the globe came to the bush capital to compete across track and field events. But not without being targeted by Australia's monochromatic songbird.
The Canberra Times reported hammer throwers from the Soviet Union being swooped by magpies while training at the Australian Institute of Sport. American athletes and the general public had also previously been targeted.
A spokeswoman said there would "definitely be something done about them" before the main event. While the fate of said magpies is not known, it is known they did not come to Australia's aid in the World Cup.
Team Oceania, represented by Australian hammer thrower Hans-Marti Lotz, came in sixth place, with the swooped Soviet Union winning the event by a handsome margin.
Black-and-white combat: 1991 and 2018
In 1991, Graham Tidy photographed a postman riding his bicycle being swooped by a magpie while on his mail run in Chifley.
The Canberra Times splashed Mr Tidy's images across the front page on August 28, as swooping season began and ranger from Parks ACT ranger Bill Martin received complaints asking for the birds to be shot.
"In a small corner of Chifley, post man Greg Flannery has been under siege from the air - every weekday for the last four weeks."
In 2018, postman John Kanard shared his secret to avoid being swooped. Gaining the trust of magpies, by using food, specifically high-quality muesli bars, helped gain their friendship.
How to protect yourself
ACT Wildlife says magpies only swoop to protect their nests and breeding territory, generally from August through November. It is estimated only 10 per cent of magpies swoop at people, predominantly males. Magpies and their nests are protected by native animal laws. Trying to remove a magpie from its area is prohibited under both territory and federal law.
If you are being swooped, ACT Wildlife recommends avoiding the area where possible, as magpies will maintain control of their territory for many years. If safe, locate the bird and watch it while walking away quietly; eye contact will make magpies less likely to swoop.
Cyclists are advised to slow down, dismount their bike and walk away, as magpies are attracted to speed.
It is illegal to intentionally harm or interfere with any native bird. Penalties include fines up to $8000 and up to six months imprisonment.
Removing magpies from an area will not solve a swooping problem. ACT Wildlife says the displaced bird will often return within hours or be replaced by other birds.
ACT Parks and Conservation Service can provide advice and swooping bird warning signs or in extreme cases remove problem birds as a last resort. Call Canberra Connect on 13 22 81.
