The ceremonial guards who watch over the safety of the Swedish royal family have come under attack by dive-bombing terns, a species of bird known for becoming aggressive during its nesting season. But not all Swedes sympathize with the guards, who want to shoot the offenders.
The birds live on the grounds of Drottningholm Palace, which sits on a small island. The royal court applied to the County Administrative Board in Stockholm for permission to shoot 10 of the birds. (And you thought kings could do as they like!).
A palace warden told local media that “The Swedish Armed Forces consider this a problem since the terns are nesting in the same area where the Royal Guards are on patrol. That is a problem which we are now trying to handle in the best way possible.”
The matter has not been resolved; the County Administrative Board is hearing opinions before making up its mind. One of the opinions comes from the Stockholm Ornithological Society that said: “Raising this issue as wildlife control is ridiculous. Some terns being aggressive against guards? These are birds weighing a maximum of 100 grams. They are small birds, which you could fend off using a stick or an umbrella.”
