The setting for the shoot was a beach in New Zealand. And the bird in question is the baby dotterel. This is what a baby dotterel looks like, just for reference.  Very cute, isn't it. 

Swift and her crew reportedly upset locals, despite having permission to film there - possibly because said crew allegedly turned out to be larger than expected. A local chairperson, by the name of Sandra Coney, took to Facebook with the following message:

"Taylor Swift filming at Bethells this week. Permission was given for I think 2 vehicles, instead there were about a dozen. Parks not happy at all... We have developed a dotterel management plan as there is a heap of filming out there, and we welcome it as economic activity that should leave no footprint, but Taylor's lot did not respect the environment or the conditions of their consent."

Taylor Swift filming at Bethells this week. Permission was given for I think 2 vehicles, instead there were about a...

Posted by Sandra Coney on Tuesday, November 24, 2015

According to Heatworld, other locals also took to Facebook to express their rage, with one stating: "May a giant bird sh*t on each of your heads every day until you are so covered in sticky mess you can’t function physically as a human being."

The New Zealand Herald adds that: "According to the Department of Conservation the newly hatched chicks look a bit like bumble bees with long legs, and become active soon after hatching. On the beach, their nests are easily destroyed by careless feet, dogs and off-road vehicles.Young chicks, when disturbed, can die from exhaustion as they cannot eat in time or get to their feeding grounds at the water's edge. Swift's management and record label have not responded to queries about the breach of permit."

Screen Auckland's Michael Brook said it was "It's very rare that Screen Auckland receives complaints about a major breach of a permit" before adding that such productions bring in the region of $130 million to Auckland's economy.

 
Surely there has to be a reasonable explanation for this. Taylor doesn't seem like someone who'd be privy to endangering baby birds.