Photo by Jane Dawber.
An oystercatcher keeps its eggs warm while its partner
stands guard in the middle of Brighton Beach among the
sunbathers and surfers. The ''bold'' and ''territorial''
nesting oystercatchers have been giving Brighton beach-goers a
squawking reminder that the beach is to be shared.
For the past two weeks, the birds has been sitting on eggs,
and Brighton surf life-saver Gavin Murdoch said when
unsuspecting beach users ventured too close, they were quick
to let them know about it.
''It's pretty bold putting its nest right in the middle of
the beach where it has.
''They do normally nest on beaches, but usually in remote
places where there's no people or dogs,'' he said.
''They can be quite aggressive about defending their
territory. They get up and give a squawk when you get too
close.''
Pupils from Big Rock School had helped protect the nest by
piling sticks up around it. Most beach-goers had been
sympathetic to the nesting birds and had kept their distance,
Mr Murdoch said.
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