Bluesfest prep able to continue with bird’s nest out of the way

By OttawaMatters Staff

A bird will no longer sit in the way of this year's RBC Bluesfest.

A killdeer nest full of eggs was found on the ground at LeBreton Flats on Friday, right in the spot where organizers needed to start building the festival's main stage. 

A request was made at that time, to be able to move the nest, as the stage's construction was slated to begin Tuesday.

Canada's Environment Minister's Office granted a permit under the Federal Migratory Birds Convention Act on Tuesday, to allow for the nest and eggs to be moved to a nearby suitable habitat.

A statement said, in the event of nest abandonment by the killdeer parents, the eggs will be transported to a rehabilitation facility to provide the best probability of survival.

While Canadian killdeer populations have been on the decline over the last 40 years, it is not a species at risk.

Despite a slight delay in getting the stage built, Bluesfest is still scheduled to start on time next week.

Festival officials said they have dealt with delays in past years due to weather, but never because of a bird.

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