An Australian resident has been praised for her quick thinking after making a very hard-to-spot discovery outside her home. The woman raised the alarm after she found a pair of bush stone-curlews nesting dangerously close to the road.
The woman, from Coombabah in south-east Queensland, kept a “close watch” on the birds, going as far as to stop cars to prevent the eggs or sitting curlews from accidentally being run over. When a wildlife carer from Wildcare Australia arrived, she suggested setting up a protective barrier using cones, tape and signage.
Curlews are ground-dwelling birds that “rely on camouflage” for protection, according to Wildcare Australia. They will hiss, spread their wings or lie low when threatened.
The iconic bird is in the midst of its breeding season, which runs from the end of July to April, during which the birds can nest up to four times.
However while they have adapted well to an urban environment, it’s common to see them make nests in car parks, schools, workplaces, hospital grounds and even caravan parks. The birds tend to prefer wide open spaces where they can spot predators from a distance.
Amy Nicholls, Sustainability and Environment Project Officer from Tweed Shire Council, previously told Yahoo News residents should “keep an eye out” for the birds during this period.
A bush stone-curlew spotted nesting at Boyds Bay Holiday Park in August. Source: Tweed Shire Council
While the Coombabah woman was praised for her efforts, similar scenes have not played out as successfully in other parts of the country.
In September, dental receptionist Alana Taylor told Yahoo News that a precious bush stone-curlew egg laid in a car park in Cleveland, in Brisbane’s southeast, had been trampled on. That is, despite her best efforts to protect the nest with wooden stakes and caution tape.
“Someone stepped on the egg,” she told Yahoo News Australia.
“It’s not clear if the egg being crushed was on purpose or an accident”, but Alana described the update as “sad”.
While the eggs themselves are delicate, when the chicks are young, “that is a very sensitive period”, Nicholls previously explained.
“They don’t understand the threats of vehicles,” she explained, adding that they are especially hard to spot at night.
Council is proactive in putting up fencing and signage to warn residents of the birds. Source: Tweed Shire Council
Bush stone-curlews under threat across Australia
While their numbers remain strong in parts of Queensland, on the other side of the border in New South Wales, the story is completely different.
The curlew is listed as an endangered species in New South Wales and Victoria and threatened in South Australia.
They face several major threats, including road strikes, habitat loss and predation by invasive species like foxes and cats, as well as domestic dogs.
“We have seen huge amounts of losses due to vehicle strikes and attacks by domestic pets,” Nicholls explained.
The council has urged residents not only to keep an eye out for the birds, but also to report nests as they pop up. Crews will then monitor the birds, as well as put up fencing and signage to warn residents about their presence.
A pair of curlews in a car park, with a tiny chick. Source: Tweed Shire Council
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