Tradies about to start work on a driveway restoration at a regional property were stopped in their tracks when an incredible discovery was made in a patch of nearby lawn. Four tiny eggs were lying in the open field, an indication that a “very special” animal was nearby.
Luckily, the property being worked on in Brighton, Tasmania, is a wildlife sanctuary, and staff knew exactly what to do. “Our team spotted the eggs nestled on the ground, which is exactly how Masked Lapwings like to nest,” Petra Harris, operations manager of Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, told Yahoo.
According to Birdlife Australia, masked lapwings, also known as plovers, are well known for building nests in “inappropriate” locations, with playing fields and the roofs of buildings being particular favourites. It comes a week after another masked lapwing laid an egg on the halfway line of a soccer field near Canberra, pausing Saturday sport indefinitely.
While some may consider the bird’s actions an inconvenience during a major project, the opposite couldn’t be truer for Petra and the team at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. “For us, it’s not an inconvenience at all — it’s actually really special,” she said. “Having wildlife choose to nest on our property is a reminder of why we do what we do.”
She described pausing machinery as “such a small adjustment” that would allow the native birds the best chance to raise their chicks.
Playing fields or grassy parks are one of the lapwing’s favourite places to nest. Source: Getty
Legal requirement if you find bird eggs on your property
Petra added that because masked lapwings are a protected native bird, there is a legal requirement for property owners to leave them be.
“If you come across a lapwing nest, the best thing you can do is give it space,” she said. You’ll often notice the parents calling loudly or swooping to protect their eggs — that’s their way of asking you to back off.
“Move away calmly and let them get back to their nest. And remember, they’re a protected species, so leaving them undisturbed isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s also the legal requirement.”
Late winter and early spring are exciting times for native wildlife, with many using the warmer weather as an opportunity to breed.
In northern NSW, Tweed Shire Council recently issued a warning to residents about the iconic bush stone-curlew, which, similarly to the masked lapwing, nests on the ground.
Amy Nicholls, the council’s Sustainability and Environment Project Officer explained the birds have adapted well to their urban environment, meaning it’s common to see them make nests in car parks, schools, workplaces, hospital grounds and even caravan parks.
“People say ‘why are they so stupid sitting in a car park’, but they are not being stupid, they are just adapting to what is now our urban environment,” she said. The birds tend to prefer wide open spaces where they can spot predators from a distance.
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