If you want to go for a <tipso stroll>stroll<tipso stroll> in the UK, you might want to leave your face mask at home.
An expert has warned that Magpies, A type of bird from the UK, are more <tipso aggressive>aggressive<tipso aggressive> towards people who wear masks.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, British people have started to wear face masks every day.
While this protects us from coronavirus, it doesn't protect us against Magpies!
Magpies are black and white birds who are very <tipso territorial>territorial<tipso territorial>. This means they will attack anyone nearby to protect their homes and babies.
However, magpies can also remember human faces. If they see your face around the <tipso nhood>neighbourhood<tipso nhood> often, they won't attack you because they know you aren't a <tipso threat>threat<tipso threat>.
This is why masks have become a big problem for them. If you wear a mask, magpies can't recognise your face and might attack you.
Daryl Jones, a magpie expert at Griffith University said:
"The mask comes into this story because most of the magpies which swoop pedestrians, do so to only one or two people who for some reason have become a threat."
"Almost every magpie lives in a small <tipso territory>territory<tipso territory> with about 20 to 30 people living there with them. The birds never leave this area and get to know all these people very well."
Magpies often lay their eggs in August, and hundreds of attacks have already been reported this year.
So far, there are over 800 reports of magpie attacks. 86 people have been injured and 1 person has died after an <tipso incident>incident<tipso incident> in Queensland, Australia.
Some people say you can avoid these attacks by wearing a hat with <tipso fake>fake<tipso fake> eyes on the back. If the magpie thinks you're looking at it, they are less likely to attack you.
Have birds in your country become more aggressive because of the pandemic? Which birds are the most aggressive?