A Killdeer Bird, Her Nest and a Music Festival
Ottawa’s biggest music festival, Bluesfest, is a two-week music showcase filled with artists from all over the world. The festival doesn’t just feature blues bands—it also includes musical artists from all sorts of genres, like Beck, Bryan Adams, Brett Eldredge, Brockhampton, Chelsea Cutler, Chromeo, Dave Matthews Band and Hanson.
This year, however, Bluesfest almost didn’t happen.
During festival preparations, a tiny nest was found in an Ottawa park where Bluesfest preparations are underway. While this may not seem significant in and of itself, it turns out the nest and four eggs it held belonged to a killdeer bird.
The killdeer bird is known for its unique squawk and the way it will play dead or injured in order to draw predators away from its nest.
The presence of the nest brought Bluesfest preparations to halt because it was right in the middle of the planned location for the main stage. And, since the 1970s, killdeer bird populations have halved, which led to their nests being protected under Canada’s migratory birds law.
As the city and Bluesfest coordinators discussed how or if they could move forward, the nest was sectioned off with yellow caution tape and had two security guards that stood watch over the nest at all times.
This past Wednesday (June 27, 2018), CBC News reports that they have successfully managed to relocate the nest so that Bluesfest can carry on as planned.
To relocate the nest, Woodlands Wildlife Sanctuary workers created an artificial new nest that they slowly moved meter by meter to ensure that the killdeer bird couple would consider caring for their eggs.
So far, the killdeer birds seem pleased with their new arrangements, but just in case there are wildlife sanctuary workers on standby with an incubator if the birds do decide to abandon the nest.
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This year, however, Bluesfest almost didn’t happen.
During festival preparations, a tiny nest was found in an Ottawa park where Bluesfest preparations are underway. While this may not seem significant in and of itself, it turns out the nest and four eggs it held belonged to a killdeer bird.
The killdeer bird is known for its unique squawk and the way it will play dead or injured in order to draw predators away from its nest.
The presence of the nest brought Bluesfest preparations to halt because it was right in the middle of the planned location for the main stage. And, since the 1970s, killdeer bird populations have halved, which led to their nests being protected under Canada’s migratory birds law.
As the city and Bluesfest coordinators discussed how or if they could move forward, the nest was sectioned off with yellow caution tape and had two security guards that stood watch over the nest at all times.
This past Wednesday (June 27, 2018), CBC News reports that they have successfully managed to relocate the nest so that Bluesfest can carry on as planned.
To relocate the nest, Woodlands Wildlife Sanctuary workers created an artificial new nest that they slowly moved meter by meter to ensure that the killdeer bird couple would consider caring for their eggs.
So far, the killdeer birds seem pleased with their new arrangements, but just in case there are wildlife sanctuary workers on standby with an incubator if the birds do decide to abandon the nest.
For more interesting news stories, check out these articles:
Baby Cow Finds Refuge With Wild Herd of Deer
Study Shows How Bumblebees and Flowers Communicate
New Book, “Cats on Catnip,” Filled With Fun Photographs of “High” Cats
Elementary Students Help Make Tiny Bog Turtle the State Reptile of New Jersey
Zoo Uses Animal Acupuncture to Help Penguins Feel Their Best