A Sky News journalist came under instant criticism for his work while live on Tuesday when a bird took offense and swooped down on him.
There was no love lost when political journalist Simon Love was rudely interrupted during a live exchange about the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) monthly interest rate announcement.
But it was the swooping bird that appeared to be angry with Love, preventing her from speaking to the station’s main news presenter, Kieran Gilbert.
While Gilbert, who was in the studioWhile Australians with home loans would be “watching the RBA’s decision closely,” Love had to watch closely as the bird got too close for comfort.
I was reporting from Carrum Downs after travelling through the mortgage belt of Frankston, on Melbourne’s south-eastern outskirts, where mortgage holders had their fingers crossed that rates would not rise.
“Wow! Sorry, Kieran,” Love said as the camera focused on him and the angry bird made its presence known.
“I was just attacked! Yes, I’m sorry, forgive me Kieran. I was just attacked by a bird.”
Unfazed by his feathered friend, Love told Gilbert that this was not the first time he had been attacked in the “last five minutes.”
Sky News reporter Simon Love (pictured) came under instant criticism for his live reporting on Tuesday when a bird took offence and swooped down on him.
“Anyway, let’s keep going and hope they don’t attack us again,” Love said as he watched the sky, just in case the aerial bombardment started again.
“We’re all waiting for this, not a bird in a swoop, we’re waiting for this decision from the Reserve Bank at 2.30pm.”
The Sky News reporter, who was scanning the sky to make sure the bird did not return, told Gilbert it might “move somewhere else” for the announcement.
“Either that, or buy a fedora,” his companion joked.
The RBA’s decision turned out to be far less exciting than Love’s live pass.
There was no change and the spot rate remained at 4.35 percent.
Sky News reporter Simon Love is pictured scanning the sky to make sure the bird that attacked him doesn’t return.
The swooping bird arrived a little earlier in the year than usual, as this behavior typically doesn’t occur until spring.
The birds are very protective of their eggs, nests and young and will often attack unsuspecting passersby if they feel threatened.
They do this as a “warning” to ward off those they consider intruders in their territory.