Big Music Fest Hits Snag Over Small Bird's Nest

Protected killdeer threatens Ottawa's Bluesfest preparation
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 26, 2018 12:28 PM CDT
Music Festival in Limbo Over 4 Eggs
File photo of a killdeer bird, this one in Concord, N.C.   (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Who knew a bird had the power to stop 300,000 people? That's the case in Canada's capital, which is days away from hosting a music festival featuring the Foo Fighters, Shawn Mendes, and Hanson. As the Ottawa Citizen reports, preparation for the 24th annual Bluesfest to kick off July 5 has run into a major snag since a killdeer was spotted guarding a nest with four eggs during setup. The bird is protected in Canada, and the federal government needs to weigh in before relocation.

"I have to say this is one of the most challenging problems that we've been presented with," says the festival director, now playing the waiting game. However, he says he's confident the show will go on. The situation needs to be resolved quickly, because the nest was built exactly where crews need to be in order to set up the main stage. One option is to move the nest itself a short but safe distance and hope mom follows; another is to take the eggs to an incubator. Per CNN, the nest has been given its own security guard in the interim. (More Canada stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X