Students asked to help nesting birds
Students at Brisbane Water Secondary College Umina Campus are being asked to be mindful of masked lapwing plovers' currently nesting on school grounds.
School principal Mr Frank Gasper said it was extremely important for students to leave the birds alone while they raised their babies.
"The masked lapwing plover is a ground dwelling bird that has decided that our school is the perfect nesting ground," Mr Gasper said.
"The masked lapwing plover has a black patch on the top of its head and has a yellow face that people would say looks like a mask.
"They have a white neck with a black ring around it with a white stomach and brown wings.
"Unfortunately, kids in our school have been harassing these birds and harming the babies -therefore they have become rather aggressive.
"The plovers are located out on the oval and are trying to keep their young safe and well.
"Although the breeding period is short, because they nest on the ground they have to be protective in order for the babies to survive.
"They are threatened by magpies, kookaburras, cats and other domestic animals and humans, which make breeding season very challenging."
Newsletter, 30 Sep 2009
Brisbane Water Secondary College Umina Campus