Hoërskool Linden has seen a year of great academic achievements, outstanding sports ethos, strengthened friendships… and now it plays special host to plover birds.
The plover’s nest which is on the school’s hockey field is protected by three dustbins. Dr Nico van Niekerk, academic deputy head said the property is a prime spot for the birds to breed.
Twitter was abuzz with the odd sighting of three dustbins mysteriously placed on the school’s field.
He explained that when the hockey players had their practice they spotted the nest which they then barred off with dustbins so that it would not be disturbed. “We call the bird a Kiewit, and every year the birds will find random spots to nest.”
He recalled how sometimes the nest would be located at a teacher’s parking bay and they would be forced to leave the bay vacant for the time the nest is there. “The birds can be very aggressive so we make sure to leave them be and not touch the nest unless we really have to as the parent birds tend to discard the nest once they smell something they do not recognise.”
These birds have come to have a special place in the school’s heart as every year new life hatches.
“It’s now come to be a tradition at the school to have these birds breed here,” said Van Niekerk.
