Australian sports ground closed for 28 days to protect nesting bird
Plovers are known to become highly territorial and aggressive once they’ve laid eggs. They defend their nests fiercely by flapping their wings, making loud noises, and swooping at intruders to keep them away.
In a bizarre turn of events, a sports ground in Australia has been closed for a month after a native bird laid eggs in the middle of the pitch. The decision was made by local authorities to protect the nesting site of the protected plover bird species.
According to Yahoo News, as reported by the Daily Mail, players arrived last week to play football at the Jerra Bomborra Regional Sports Complex, about 20 minutes from Canberra, only to discover that a plover had laid eggs right in the centre of the pitch. As a result, the match was relocated to a neighbouring field.
Plovers are known to become highly territorial and aggressive once they've laid eggs. They defend their nests fiercely by flapping their wings, making loud noises, and swooping at intruders to keep them away.
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The local council told Yahoo News Australia that, based on advice from wildlife organisation Wildcare, all club matches on the artificial football pitch have been moved to an alternative ground nearby to protect the nesting site.
The pitch could remain closed for up to 28 days, depending on how long the birds require the space. When asked about the decision, the council said, "We must be proactive in protecting our native species. If the eggs need to be moved, wildlife specialists must be involved and official permission obtained."
The council expressed its gratitude to the local football teams for their cooperation and support, including helping to shift training and matches to a different field provided by the authorities.
