Gold Coast cricket’s magpie issue: Runaway Bay Cricket Club face a $380 bill to remove troublesome swooping birds

One of the Gold Coast’s most notorious cricket grounds faces a $380 bill if it wishes to cure its swooping conundrum. READ THE FULL REPORT

ONE of the Gold Coast’s most notorious cricket grounds faces a $380 bill if it wishes to cure its swooping conundrum.

Runaway Bay’s Sam Loxton oval has been a magpie nesting ground for years, with one bird, in particular, setting up shop in the same tree on the field’s perimeter each year and swooping unsuspecting cricketers who dare field on the boundary.

Mudgeeraba Nerang fielder Jai Kurt was on the receiving end of an attack earlier this month while playing in the Kookaburra Cup.

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But Runaway Bay Cricket Club president Travis Harker said the problem was a difficult one to solve.

“A few years ago, we had a magpie problem and there were heaps of them around the club because locals were feeding them so we rang up to get them relocated and it was going to be $380 a bird,” he said.

“Council doesn’t remove them if they’re being a pest, it’s up to the owners of the club so for four or five weeks every summer, it’s just one of those things.

“We’ve tried everything. Some guys have tried putting a bin down there with eyes on it but nothing seems to have worked.”

Mudgeeraba Nerang cricketer Jai Kurt had a "terrifying" encounter with a magpie last weekend. Pic: Supplied.

The offending magpie is believed to also have interfered with a cricket tournament at the club in September, choosing not to swoop on the first two days before going into attack mode on the final two days.

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The magpie has also been joined in recent years by two plovers who nest in the centre of the pitch every summer, meaning players spend the opening weeks of pre-season dodging swooping birds.

But despite the potential for attack, Harker said teams had no plans to make a universal truce to avoid hitting towards the troublesome area.

“Some teams have chosen not to put someone down there in the past but realistically, very few games are impacted by it,” he said.

“Every club has its own quirks and characteristics and this is ours.

“Some teams have a bit of fun with it and send their youngest bloke down there but at the end of the day, we’re not playing professional cricket so these things might happen.

“From a spectator point of view, it can be quite funny to watch but it’s just one of those things, it’s Australia at its finest.”

EARLIER

AS if standing in the searing heat for hours on end wasn’t enough, spare a thought for Mudgeeraba Nerang cricketer Jai Kurt who was swooped relentlessly by a territorial magpie in the field last weekend.

Kurt, 18, said he could recall similar incidents at Runaway Bay’s Sam Loxton oval growing up on the Gold Coast but never thought he’d be on the receiving end of a black and white attack.

Sensing an attack was incoming, Mudgeeraba Nerang statesman Kevin Chapman instructed his junior to go and field on the boundary.

“I guess seniority has the final say but he did give me the move along,” Kurt joked.

The 18-year-old said he’d been swooped by a plover previously but nothing compared to being in the firing line of an angry magpie.

“I could see the shadow coming and I could hear a wind clap in my ears but I couldn’t actually see it coming,” he said.

“It was pretty terrifying.

“The guy who was fielding next to me was trying to warm me when it was about to hit.

“I didn’t want it coming down and nipping my ear and making me bleed or anything like that.

“I was there for five overs and it came at me every single ball.”

The off spinner was eventually called into the bowling attack, gleefully leaving his boundary post while his teammates were thrown into the line of fire for the remaining overs.

And even then, Kurt doesn’t recall the magpie attacking Runaway Bay fielders while his side was at the crease.

Mudgeeraba Nerang cricketer Jai Kurt had a "terrifying" encounter with a magpie last weekend. Pic: Supplied.

Luckily for the Bushmen, the magpie assault was well worth it as Kurt’s team ran out strong winners in Round One of Kookaburra Cup action.

“I was lucky I didn’t have to go back to that position,” he said.

“A few other people copped it as well.

“We have a very similar team to last year so I think we’ll be very strong as the season goes on.”

Palm Beach Currumbin will have the dreaded task this weekend of playing at Sam Loxton Oval when they play Runaway Bay while Mudgeeraba Nerang face Alberton Ormeau.

Round 2 Fixtures

Burleigh v Queens @ Queens

Surfers Paradise v Helensvale Pacific Pines @ Helensvale

Southport Labrador v Broadbeach Robina @ Southport

Alberton Ormeau v Mudgeeraba Nerang @ Alberton

Colts JCC v Coomera Hope Island @ South Tweed

Palm Beach Currumbin v Runaway Bay @ Runaway Bay

EARLIER: The 46-year-old first grade debutant

IT’S been a long time between drinks for Southport Labrador first-grade debutant Scott McGrath.

The 46-year-old isn’t new to the Kookaburra Cup.

In his 20s, McGrath was a regular first-grade performer for the Mudgeeraba Nerang cricket club but was forced to give up cricket in the early 2000s when his job required him to work Saturdays.

Then seven years ago, after years out of the game, McGrath made a triumphant return to playing for Southport Labrador’s over 40s side who played on Sunday.

Then four years ago, McGrath decided to give grade cricket one more crack for Southport Labrador after his kids started playing for the club.

The move saw McGrath reunite with former Mudgeeraba teammate turned Tiger Paul Johnston who has been wreaking havoc on opposition sides for years.

Southport Labrador cricketer Scott McGrath will make his first-grade debut for the Tigers. Pic: Supplied.

McGrath, a medium-pacer, took 36 wickets for the summer and helped steer the Tigers’ second-grade side into the top four.

And now, nearly 20 years after he last played first-grade cricket, McGrath will pull on the whites once more after all-rounder Wade Kilborn suffered a slight injury.

“Nic (Southport Labrador captain Nic Peterson) called me on Tuesday after training and I knew Wade was injured so I started thinking hang on there might be an opportunity here,” the debutant said.

“I knew I had a good season last year and the boys were encouraging the selectors to put me up last year but it never eventuated.

“I’m been but a little bit nervous because at the end of the day, if you get smacked around the park, a few of the guys might start having a chuckle.

“I told my second-grade boys, don’t worry I’m just plugging a hole I’ll be back soon but they said if you take five-for you’ll start there.

“I’m keen to wind back the clock.”

While McGrath will be taking to the crease a bit further down the batting order than Kilborn usually would, the Arundel local still believes Southport Labrador has the talent to finish high on the Kookaburra Cup table when they commence their season against Coomera Hope Island on Saturday.

“Even though we don’t have any imports this year, we’ve been fortunate to pick up a couple of very good local guys so everyone is rearing to go,” he said.

In other Round 1 action, Helensvale Pacific Pines will host Broadbeach Robina, Queens verse Surfers Paradise, Alberton Ormeau Cricket Club play Burleigh, Colts JCC make their first-grade return against Palm Beach Currumbin and Runaway Bay face off against Mudgeeraba Nerang.