The birds that nest each year in the backyard in Percy Crescent Chapman
seem to have suffered the same fate. A bird was constantly on the nest
from 8 to 27 July, but was gone last weekend and found in the horse paddocks
about 150 m away, where they usually take their young. They pair have
gradually moved from here and this morning were over 0.5 km away. While
giving typical alarm calls form well before they can be seen, in this time there
has only been one half-hearted pass by me (on the first morning).
My conclusion is that like last year they have been unsuccessful. It
is tempting to speculate that the very cold ground has been a major factor, but
I have no evidence for that, noting that last year they nested 2 month later,
starting in September.
Jack Holland
From:
Sent: Saturday, August 11, 2012 1:18 PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] The Lapwings in William Slim Drive have
given up
The
Masked Lapwing pair who nested in the roundabout at the intersection of Baldwin
Drive and William Slim Drive in Giralang have given up. They were there
last night, but not there today (11 August). I had a close look on the
roundabout but I couldn't see any trace of the nest - no eggs or egg remains, or
any other sign. I found two pairs of adults nearby - one pair flew off,
the other pair would sit on the ground when disturbed, as if protecting chicks
underneath, but there were no chicks.
Duncan.
