A couple of nesting crows nearly put the kibosh on plans for the series of rock concerts featuring Bruce Springsteen and Mumford and Sons being held this summer in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The feathered pair had organisers of the so-called Summer Stampede of concerts in a real flap after the all star events hung in the balance because they weren’t allowed to disturb the nesting birds.

The crows built their nest in the former Olympic basketball arena during work to dismantle the temporary venue ahead of building the concert stage for last weekend’s Hard Rock Calling Concert headlined by Springsteen which attracted 80,000 fans.

But construction was halted on advice from Natural England experts and in line with the Olympic Park’s commitment to protect wildlife during its 18 month programme of transformation.

Hard Rock Calling and forthcoming concerts like this weekend’s Mumford and Son gig and the Yahoo, Wireless, and Electric Daisy Carnival concerts were almost halted while The London Legacy Development Corporation desperately drew up contingency plans to find an alternative site in the Park for the concerts.

But with just days to spare the crows, nicknamed Russell and Sheryl Crowe, by construction workers flew the nest allowing the basketball arena to be dismantled and the concerts to go ahead.

“Sheryl and Russell caused us all a few sleepless nights but we did become quite attached to them in the end,” said Dennis Hone, CEO, London Legacy Development Corporation.

We have always put wildlife and the environment first, throughout the Park’s transformation. Luckily at the eleventh hour nature took its course allowing work to continue so we’re able to welcome tens of thousands of visitors back to the Park for a summer of great events.”