Arabic version: زقزاق تسماني يعشش في ملعب كريكيت

According to The Guardian, a masked lapwing has built a nest of eggs in the middle of Windsor Park oval in Riverside, near Launceston in northern Tasmania, remaining undisturbed as weekend cricket matches continue around it.

Locals have nicknamed the bird “Faf Swoop Plessis”, referring to former South African cricket captain Faf du Plessis. As the species is protected under Tasmanian law and disturbing nests can bring fines of up to $21,300, ground staff have mowed around the nest and players have kept their distance.

Great Northern Raiders player Caleb Brewer was positioned beside the nest during an early-season match. He told the Examiner that the experience initially felt unusual, but that players became accustomed to it and the bird “wasn’t too bad at the end”. Riverside opener Josh Partridge later described a “mutual understanding” with the lapwing while fielding nearby.

Mark Holdsworth OAM of BirdLife Tasmania said lapwings often adapt to local patterns of human activity when people avoid the core nesting area. He said sports ovals offer the birds clear views that help them spot potential threats. BirdLife Australia’s Sean Dooley said lapwings nest in open places so they can see danger approaching and rely on camouflage to conceal eggs and chicks.

Both parents share incubation, with eggs hatching after 28 to 30 days. West Tamar mayor Christina Holmdahl said council teams encounter at least 10 nesting sites each year and maintain buffer zones during grounds maintenance. The situation coincides with the annual Aussie Bird Count, which begins on Monday 19 October.