Plovers in My Backyard

Baddad (Marty) · #1 19-08-2009, 08:29 AM

Hi All,

Spring is here. Well the Plovers (Masked Lapwing) population seems to believe it.

I managed to get a few quick pics of the chicks. The strategy these birds use when threatened is incredible considering their limitations.

The parents run off, hoping to draw the preditor away from the chicks. The chicks go into hiding. In short grass. The parents then start swooping the offender.

The pics show: 1, One chick "hiding on a mowed lawn."
2, Chick two selected better cover, and almost not visible My finger almost touching it.
3, Don't believe its in there, well I gently removed it from cover.
4, After releasing it the chick headed for the open lawn.
5, Time to not be here. Big Daddy doesn't like me so close to the chicks.

Cheers Marty

BerrieK · #2 19-08-2009, 08:51 AM

Nice pics Marty. Plovers sure are protective little blighters arent they.

A pair set up house in the middle of the playground at my daughters school a few years ago...they put witches hats around a huge area of the playground to keep the kids away for ages - the parents (birds that is!!) were really aggressive. I guess I would be too if I say a bunch of giants coming towards my kids!!

Kerrie

GrahamL · #3 19-08-2009, 07:04 PM

I'm convinced you should never show all the other hunters eyes in the trees were lunch is ( so got my arse kicked years ago)

.. you and I just think there cute .. not all eyes that see them feel the same way.. but they do seem to like laying eggs in pretty
out there spots so maybe we are something they like to be around ??

Jen · #4 19-08-2009, 10:12 PM

you have them too....... i thought i had all of them in my back yard there swooping little buggers alright
They noisy too in the middle of the night they look like penguins all bunched up together having a great chat under the moonlight

Baddad (Marty) · #5 20-08-2009, 08:02 AM

Hi Jen, Kerrie, Nightstalker,

We have 14 adults here. Six years ago only four. The area must be good to them. My dogs ignore them on the ground. sometimes a threesome isolated from the rest look like the "Three Stooges".

Noisy, swooping, yes. However they do keep the bugs down. I try to learn as much as I can to protect them here. In fact I feed a moderate wild bird population here to keep them in the area.

Cheers Marty