I saw a pair of these birds in the local park, the first time i have seen them there. Or any where, they are a first for me. I don't see a wide variety of birds as i live in public housing property and must look further afield. Anyway they are peculia looking birds, and it was good to see them.
The noisy miners are so aggressive at this park that are only a few birds there ever. Even though it is a big park with a lot of large trees and native plants.
One of the noisy miners swooped me just the way a magpie would have. I heard the snap of the wing just past my head.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth, Masked Lapwings enjoy open, grassy areas sometimes close to water. They often breed in these areas, laying their eggs on the ground & fiercely protecting them & their young when they emerge. This is a species which is relatively undisturbed by human presence. I've seen an unperturbed pair on the lawn outside Burnside Council chambers on traffic-riddled, carbon monoxide-clogged Greenhill Road in Adelaide. Near where I live a pair bred young ones on open ground next to a neighbour's gateway when they could have chosen another 70 acres far from the madding crowd.
In relation to the Noisy Miners you might be interested in the current thread "Disappearing Birds" under the General forum.
Yes, public housing areas are yet to establish their reputations as native bird-friendly areas. Pressure on your local friendly housing authority might give it pause for consideration.
Elizabeth, in relation to Noisy Miners, you might be interested in the thread "Disappearing Birds" on this forum.
Thanks for this Woko, the park as so many are, is full of large trees and a lot less of the under storey, although they have tried to put in some, it is mostly strappy planting, not good hiding places for small birds.
That is interesting about the masked lapwings, this is the first sighting for a number of years.
One problem around here is people feeding the lorrikeets, and these people are not able to hear that its not good for them or other birds. They have become pets.
Elizabeth
elizabeth
Yes, Elizabeth, there are lots of excellent reasons to provide natural habitat for birds to feed in rather than presenting them with the risks of artificial feeding.
Masked Lapwings are not my favourite bird at all. I've been swooped by too many of them during their breeding season (very late winter/early spring). But when they're not breeding they're quite a funny bird to encounter. They will often run or walk fast to get out of your way.
Masked Lapwings are territorial and have their own territories like Australian Magpies do. They will breed in the same area, often within the same immediate area of last season's nest site. They nest on the ground and their chicks are predated on by cats, foxes and other predators. You can actually forecast the weather of the following spring and summer by seeing how successful Masked Lapwings breed each season. True story. If Masked Lapwings don't breed and have chicks by the beginning of summer, they are either too young to breed (which means they are less than 2 years old) or something happened to their eggs, or their eggs fried due to the heat. But each year they will try to breed and they only try just once. That's what happens with the Masked Lapwings here in Tenterfield, NSW anyway. The following year they will try again.
Keep an eye out for more pairs of these birds, Elizabeth. There are bound to be more of them showing up as the year progresses as we've just gone through some really bad years but last year was a good year for Masked Lapwings to breed successfully. Sorry, I'm ranting now.
I'm at Tenterfield, NSW. (Formerly known as "Hyperbirds".)
I would like to see them again, just for the sake of variety, but that was the only time. Will keep an eye out though.
Elizabeth
elizabeth
How lucky you are to have been swooped, Shirley. This indicates there is sufficient healthy habitat for the Masked Lapwings to have bred. Congratulations for doing your part.