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You know that Spring is on the way in our part of
the world when you see the first Masked Lapwing chicks for the season.
This happened last week 31st July in the urban part of Sunderland Bay on Phillip
Island (in the quite appropriately named for the occasion Plover Street!).
Parents were fussing over their three chicks when I went to pick up a
friend. On the way out of the street I also saw my first Fantail Cuckoo
for the season. A double whammy! My friend said she thought the chicks had
hatched the previos weekend - so the chick had survived for at least 5 days at
that stage.
We saw a second batch of chicks at Newhaven beside
the main road on our way off the Island.
Four chicks hatched behind one of the holiday
houses over the road from my place in urban Cowes earlier this wee.It is unusual
to see four chick from one hatching. Unfortunately I could only find one
of them today. I hope the others were hidden around the place, but I fear
they have been discovered by some of the many predator species around; Magpie,
Raven, Silver Gulls, cats, dogs, cars, etc. It's a worry growing up in the
suburbs!
Elizabeth Shaw
Surefoot Explorations
Phillip Island
Victoria
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