Plover bird swoops constable during Far North Queensland breath test
A nesting plover attacked a police constable mid-breath test on Sunday, forcing her to duck while her partner kept testing the rider.
A female constable named Stork was swooped by a protective plover on Ray Jones Drive at Woree on Sunday during a roadside breath test. Video shows the bird attacking as she ducked and circled the motorbike while her colleague tried to keep the stop on track.
The two officers laughed through the encounter. Masked lapwings, known as plovers, nest on the ground in open areas and swoop to scare threats during breeding season.
The behaviour is meant to protect their nests, not to cause harm. No one was hurt, including the bird.
- Ray Jones Drive, Woree
- Location
- Constable Stork
- Officer's name
- Sunday
- Day
- Masked lapwing (plover)
- Bird species
Why it mattersPlovers are a real hazard during breeding season in Queensland, so knowing they swoop to protect nests, not attack, keeps people safer.
AustraliaPlover swoops are common across Queensland during nesting season and can interrupt anything happening near their ground nests.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 d ago
