URGENT UPDATE: An Australian mum faced an unexpected delay while heading to a football game when a family of bush-stone curlews blocked her driveway. Donna Buckingham, from the Whitsundays, Queensland, encountered this uniquely Australian situation just before she was set to leave with her partner.
As they approached their car, Donna spotted the curlews standing protectively over their two chicks. “They heard us coming, and when we went to the car, they started growling,” she told Yahoo News Australia. Instead of moving aside, the adult curlews flapped their wings in defense, while the chicks “plopped down” and pretended to be dead, creating a standoff that left Donna and her partner with no option but to retreat.
With the curlews positioned directly behind their car in the courtyard, Donna opted not to start the engine, fearing it would frighten the birds. “We didn’t want to start the car and freak them out because they had babies,” she explained.
This encounter highlights the coexistence of wildlife and humans in suburban Australia, especially in regions where bush-stone curlews are more common. While these birds nest on the ground and rely on camouflage for protection, they have faced declining populations due to the introduction of foxes in areas like South Australia, NSW, and Victoria, where they are now considered threatened.
The bush-stone curlew is relatively well-loved in the tropics, making Donna’s experience both delightful and novel, especially since she previously lived in Victoria, where the birds are rare. Her initial video shared on TikTok, showcasing this amusing delay, has garnered over 600,000 views and sparked over 650 comments from viewers sharing their own experiences with curlews and plovers.
“Imagine explaining this to your boss when they ask why you’re late,” one user joked, capturing the lighthearted sentiment of the situation. Many commenters expressed their love for the curlews and the unexpected charm of the encounter.
As the curlews eventually moved on, Donna and her husband returned to their car and made it to the football game, albeit in a rush. “We had to rush through to catch the game,” she noted, emphasizing the importance of patience when it comes to wildlife on the move.
Her experience serves as a reminder to other drivers to be considerate of local fauna, especially during nesting seasons. By sharing her story, Donna hopes to encourage awareness and understanding of these unique birds and their role in the Australian ecosystem.
For those who love Australia’s rich and diverse wildlife, encounters like this one are more than just amusing—they are a testament to the beauty of living in harmony with nature.
