I have a question regarding Plovers, these photos were taken around Pakenham Train Station, but you would find these birds in every park in the City or urban park. None of that would be their natural breeding place. My question is, do these birds breed in the urban environment, or do they just move in? Has anyone seen them nesting and bring up young? I have picked up my son for 2 years now, and never noticed any young birds. Any ideas??
over the last few years I have been working in residential aged care centres in Alstonville and Coraki, NSW and a Masked Lapwing pair were breeding in the grounds at both centres
does Alstonville fit your 'urban' definition? - I seem to recall a population of 1200
and Coraki was smaller
pic #1 - young at Alstonville
pic#2 - juvenile at Coraki
Peter
re-posted as I got a 'did not post message'
Peter
Thanks, I have not seen young Plovers, they are beautiful, thanks, I was getting the impression those urban birds reached the end of the line, so to speak at Pakenham? Glad to hear they do breed somewhere.
M-L
They sure do breed in urban environments, Araminta. Ms Woko used to work in Windsor Gardens, a light industrial suburb of Adelaide. She saw masked plovers breed outside her office window ont the factory lawn between the factory & the street.
If these birds have bred at the station it doesn't surprise me that you haven't seen the young ones because they're such well camouflaged balls of fluff. I recall nearly stepping on two very young ones on my uncle's farm many years ago. Needless to say, mum & dad plover were extremely protective of their young ones as they dived me with great fanfair for the clumsy man.
We also have a pair at our local park which have bred there. Unfortunately, none of the chicks from two broods survived because they were probably eaten by the neighbourhood cats or foxes. The adults regularly feed around a children's playground and are unfussed by the screaming kids. They also don't mind a weird-lookin' bloke pointing a huge lens at them either. :lol: I have also seen a pair nesting on a roadside verge, smack in the middle of an industrial area near my workplace. They appear to be an adaptable species. I have unsuccessfully tried to attach a couple of shots of the birds at our local park. If anyone can work out what I'm doing wrong please help. Ta.
Cheers,
George
Melbourne, VIC
Have a look at this news article and video, of plovers around the NT Parliament building. They nest all over darwin!
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2010/01/12/114801_ntnews.html
Thanks HendoNT, that is hilarious......good advice for any pollie to steer clear of "Grass", LOL. Could get attacked by more than angry birds.
M-L
They breed here in Brisbane too. Had a pair set up a nest site in a vacant block of land traversed by hoardes of school kids daily. A friendly resident put up a pole at the nesting site to stop anyone treading on the eggs. Have seen young birds with their parents, but not the little chicks.
Karen
Brisbane southside.
Thanks for the great shots of the adults and babies. I've seen babies before years ago when I lived in NSW. Last year we saw babies grow up in the Point Cook Coastal park, that was nice, kept going back to see them progress.