Bluefest, Canada's Music Festival is on Hold Due to a Small Bird and Its Four Eggs
The breed is protected by the Canadian government and cannot be moved without federal permission.
One of Canada's biggest music fest is on hold due to a bird and her nest. Organisers were prepping for 24th annual RBC Bluesfest in Ottawa when they spotted a killdeer sitting beside her nest guarding four eggs. The bird had a house at one of the festival's main stages. The breed is protected by the Canadian government and cannot be moved without federal permission. The music fest held in July gets attendees from across Canada. It witnesses an average attendance of more than 3,00,000 fans.
The bird cannot be relocated as the parent killdeer may abandon eggs if they are moved more than a few feet, said Carleton University naturalist Michael Runtz. The eggs take between 24 and 28 days to hatch after which the birds can start flying shortly.
"I have to say this is one of the most challenging problems that we've been presented with recently," CNN quoted Bluesfest executive director Mark Monahan.
Watch the video here:
Organizers of Bluesfest are now awaiting a reply from Environment Canada and the National Capital Commission on what has to be done. However, if neither of their options is approved, the festival will have to find a way to accommodate the bird.
Currently, workers have blocked off the nest with a yellow caution tape to ensure the bird is safe. The festival has also hired a security guard for the bird's safety. The organisers have now identified multiple re-nesting locations while awaiting decisions from federal officials. Bluefestival is scheduled to begin from July 5.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 26, 2018 04:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).