We’ve seen it all in the past, the outcome of major music festivals can be affected by any number of variables, such as of low sales, bad weather, or headliners pulling out at the last minute… but we’ve never seen one be jeopardized by something as small as a bird.
One of Canada’s largest outdoor music festivals, Ottawa Bluesfest, is beak-deep in a logistical problem right now after a bird has taken up the space where the main stage is supposed to be set up as her nesting ground. The killdeer has chosen that spot to lay four eggs, waiting for them to hatch.
Work to set up Bluesfest's main stage in time for the July 5th festival is in jeopardy because of a nesting bird.
A killdeer bird has created a tiny nest right where the main stage is supposed to go.
Details: https://t.co/t1zNiC3WNl#ottnews #ottawa #Bluesfest pic.twitter.com/UbFC7YCQ5L— Sherry Aske (@SherryAske) June 24, 2018
A killdeer was recently spotted in the middle of a cobblestone — the spot where Bluesfest’s main stage is supposed to be set up. According to a CBC reporter, festival organizers have applied to Environment Canada to have the bird’s eggs moved 50 feet from where they sit. Though some conservationists argue that some birds will abandon their eggs if they are moved.
For anyone rooting for the Bluesfest killdeer, here's what a hatchling looks like.#ottawa #birds pic.twitter.com/ceNlTrOLc8
— No One Is Illegal (Stirling+WingedBeast) (@stirlbot) June 25, 2018
While killdeers aren’t an endangered species in Canada they have been in decline in recent years. Killdeers nesting spots are protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act. Typically their eggs take 24-26 days to hatch.
.@ottawabluesfest's Mark Monahan says the festival will go on. "We have no indication that this bird will disrupt the event. This is one of the most challenging problems we have faced recently." #Ottawa #ottarts @OttawaFestivals https://t.co/EuYWMOcM0P
— ARTSFILE (@artsfileottawa) June 25, 2018
Festival organizers are hoping the birds hatch in the next couple days as the festival kicks off July 5th, running until the 15th. Festival organizer Mark Monahan says despite situation, he has “no indication that this bird will disrupt the event.” That being said, Monahan says “this is one of the most challenging problems we have faced recently.”
Update 2:08 (2018-06-26): According to a Tweet by CBC, Environment Canada gave their permission to relocate the killdeer’s nest to a “suitable habitat” nearby.
BREAKING EXTREMELY #OTTAWA NEWS:
The killdeer nest on the @ottawabluesfest grounds is being moved to a nearby "suitable habitat," per Environment Canada.#ottnews pic.twitter.com/fC3xvHzPos
— CBC Ottawa (@CBCOttawa) June 26, 2018