SHOREWOOD, Wis. (CBS 58) – Aggressive behavior from a species of bird in Milwaukee’s North Shore is ruffling feathers.

In a Facebook post, the Village of Shorewood shared reports of an aggressive Red-wing Blackbird along Lake Drive near Atwater Park.

The post said birds can be very territorial, and it is not uncommon for them to "divebomb" passersby, particularly in mid-June when they are nesting.

Near Cahill Square Park in Whitefish Bay, many people who live in the area said they’ve experienced encounters with the birds.

“You kind of hear cackling in the air, and then they swoop down and just hit you on the head,” Terry Schwartz, a Whitefish Bay resident, said. “It startled me at first, but now I’m so used to it.”

“My stepmom was walking home from the gym, and when she exited the building on her way to the car, the bird swarmed down and tried to peck at her face, so she had to run to the car and start her car pretty fast,” said Aria Edwards, a Whitefish Bay resident. “The bird wouldn’t leave her alone until she drove off.”

According to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, they are federally protected, and law enforcement (village or otherwise) or Shorewood staff may not take active action, remove, or harm the bird.

Some Whitefish Bay residents have shared their love for the Red-winged Blackbirds. Fifteen-year-old Silas Ehlers of Whitefish Bay shared these photos with CBS 58.

To avoid the birds, the Village of Shorewood recommends waving your arms to avoid contact or walk facing the bird (they normally "attack" from behind), walking a different route, listening for warning calls from the bird, wearing a hat, using an umbrella to protect the head and scare the bird away, or posting a temporary sign if ongoing and problematic.