Cyclists have reported magpies are actively swooping to scare people away from their nests at locations right across the city.

Glenda McKay said she was swooped three times in two days at different places last week.

Noel McKay also came under attack on a bike path near Burrendong Way.

Mrs McKay said she had been swooped near Canobolas Public School, in west Orange and just off the Northern Distributor Road.

"It really swooped me hard on the helmet. I've been [swooped] three time in the last two days," she said.

Other magpies have been spotted swooping people on the Edward Street side of the new overpass bridge near Jack Brabham Park and on the cycle path at Ploughmans Creek near Glendale Crescent.

Bird expert and Charles Sturt University Lecturer in Ornithology Dr Melanie Massaro said the best way to avoid being swooped was to stay away from the nesting areas.

"If that is not possible, it is advisable to wear a hat or helmet (bike riders) for protection from swooping," she said.

"If you find yourself under attack, raise your arm over your head to protect your head and move as quickly as possible out of their territory. A magpie will stop swooping when you are out of its territory."

She said magpies often attacked from behind because they are aware of people's eyes.

"A study conducted on masked lapwings found that fake eyes on the back of hats protected pedestrians from swooping attacks, but this little trick didn't work for cyclists," she said.

Dr Massaro said as a public safety act, councils that become aware of swooping magpies should put signs up to warn pedestrians and cyclists.

And she said if you get swooped once there is a fair chance it will happen again.

"Australian magpies can live up to 25 years, so if you encounter a swooping male during one breeding season, it is likely that he will still occupy the same territory the following year," she said. "If he again has chicks he wishes to defend, he will swoop you again."