A man from Australia named Deano faced a delivery problem when he found a letter explaining the reason why his package could not be delivered. Why? Two nesting Bush Stone Curlews defending their territories.
Deano from Cairns in Australia is used to having these birds share his yard. He explained that “Curlews were quite plentiful here” and “like many other people, we had a couple of nests in the yard.” Bush Stone-curlews are common in Australia. They’re known for nocturnal habits, and their distinctive, eerie call.
As per Birdlife AustraliaBush Stone Curlews have a reputation for intimidating displays of defense. Deano said that the birds will hiss and wailing as they walk towards you, while holding their wings up to appear bigger. Although it’s frightening, they don’t really bite. Deano learned first-hand that their territorial nature can cause problems.
When Deano returned home, he found an Australia Post note with the following message: “Sorry couldn’t reach the door.” The curlews were losing their…” The implication was clear: the postal worker felt threatened by the protective birds and deemed it unsafe to approach the property.
Australia Post’s spokesperson said that safety is their top priority. Posties will not drop off parcels if they feel unsafe for whatever reason. This includes nesting curlews. Instead, the Postie will return the package to the Post Office.
Australia Post provides alternative delivery methods to help mitigate the situation. “Customers with potential hazards on their property—whether wildlife related or a family pet—can help keep their Postie safe by opting for delivery to a free 24/7 parcel lockers or use the AusPost app to redirect their parcel to a safer location.” It ensures customers get their parcels while minimising the risk of postal workers being exposed to aggressive wildlife and other hazards.
Deano told his story using a picture of the note Reddit subreddit r/Australia, under username u/The_Duc_Lord. Post titled, “Delivery Attempt” quickly became viral. Over 8,500 likes and hundreds comments were left.
Redditor ‘Yep, finally a reasonable postcard left out. This highlights the reasonable refusal of delivery. Other Redditor’s chime in to support the decision of the post worker. Another agreed that “I won’t criticize the driver”, while another said it was “fair and acceptable”.
One user joked that Australia Post would only attempt to deliver if your birds believe they are in a Hitchcock movie. One user summed up the situation perfectly, “That is by far the most legitimate reason that I have seen from an Australian Postie.”
What happened to Deano’s parcel? It was returned to him the next day by the post office. This encounter, while amusing to many people, also highlighted to them the unique challenges that postal workers have to face when they are dealing with Australian native wildlife. Residents should be reminded to use other delivery options in order to keep postal workers safe.