When a Nightjar Turns Your Mall Into a Bird‑Binge
Picture this: it’s just another breezy Wednesday morning—July 20th—and the mall lights are buzzing with shoppers, coffees, and the occasional sneeze from a guy wearing too many layers. Suddenly, a giant feathered surprise swoops into the mix.
Who Knew a Nightjar Would Head to Peninsula Plaza?
Chia, the fashion-savvy owner of a boutique on North Bridge Road, swore he was sweeping for loose threads when he spotted the nightjar spinning around the mall at about 09:30 am. Thinking it was a little bird in distress, he dialed up the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres).
According to Chia, the big‑tailed nightjars are nocturnal, so their presence in the daytime mall was a mind‑bender. A cleaner had spotted the feathered visitor at 06:00 am, and it quickly got stuck on a ledge. The mall’s shoppers went from grabbing their first latte to trying to host a “bird rescue squad.”
“Seeing it glide around with its big wings was wild,” Chia told Stomp. “Everybody was so excited, all we could do was help it escape.”
Acres Steps In with Their Wings Hooked
Kalai Vanan, the deputy chief executive officer of Acres, confirmed that the call from Chia sounded urgent. “It’s not the first time we’ve seen birds like sparrows or mynas wander into malls and manage screaming to leave on their own,” he said. “Nightjars, however, prefer night activity and can get stuck in places where they’ll starve if left unattended.”
Fortunately, the bird had come out unscathed. The team guided it out and released it into a nearby park where it could fly free again.
Kalai added a quick science note: “Nightjars are night hunters. They catch flying insects on the go, so they’re drawn to lights that lure bugs. It’s a natural forage trap.”
One Call Can Save a Nightjar (and Your Shopping Experience)
- Spot a bird in trouble? Pump the Acres hotline – 978 3778 2.
- If you’re not sure if the bird needs help, no harm to call first.
- Every rescued creature gets a new feather‑friendly life.
So next time you’re shopping, keep your eyes peeled. You might just witness a feathered visitor making a cameo in your mall’s lunchtime soundtrack.
