<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A routine walk home from </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/school" rel="" target="" title="school"><span>school</span></a><span> has left a 12-year-old girl in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/hospitals" rel="" target="" title="hospital"><span>hospital</span></a><span> after a magpie attack in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/western-australia" rel="" target="" title="WA"><span>WA</span></a><span>'s south-west.
</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sam Moodie's mother is now speaking out to warn others as Nicole Moodie fears the worst for her daughter's eyesight.
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"I've always taught my kids not to look up when they hear a bird," Nicole told 9News.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/baby-dies-after-being-struck-by-train-in-nsw-north/dc2d1233-1489-4536-8859-32d90caabf3d"><strong><span>Toddler dies after being hit by train in remote NSW town</span></strong></a><strong><span>
</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She was head down and it's just come from the front and straight into the eye."
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The 12-year-old was walking across her school oval in the West Australian town of Australind when she was swooped by a magpie and attacked in the eye.
</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I could just see it in her face, she was in a lot of pain," Nicole said.
</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/sam-moodie-swooped-by-magpie-walk-home-from-school/579e32d2-8ef3-424c-ba5b-4d9e9a96af57" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She's got a high pain tolerance but she was very pained, she was crying and panicking as well."
</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Year 7 student has undergone two surgeries and is now at Perth Children's Hospital.
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While the extent of the damage still unknown, Sam may never see out of her left eye again after the bird's beak caused damage to the lens.
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The family don't blame anyone but say other students had issues with the magpie before.
</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"From what I understand they had moved the baby the day of, and obviously dad was still where he was so he was a bit annoyed I think," Nicole said.
</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's just a really bad situation where she was in the wrong place at the wrong time."
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While magpie breeding season is at the tail end, experts say there's still a risk.
</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"When the chicks are in the nest, and the males have a peak of testosterone around that time and that's when they are the most aggressive or defensive," Curtain University ecologist Associate Professor Bill Bateman told 9News.
</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If you're heading out for a walk, the advice is to be alert - avoid magpie hotspots, wear a broad brim hat and put on some sunglasses.
</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The best thing to do is, if you're swooped by a magpie, is to just to keep moving and get out of the area," Bateman said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&hl=en_AU&pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>
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