Quote from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lark
“Like many ground birds, most lark species have long hind claws,
which are thought to provide stability while standing.“
The idea handed down from Anthea truly is
amusing. I wonder how using a long hind toe would achieve a result and why it
would be of benefit. If a bird’s nest is discovered or disturbed such that
there would be benefit in moving, the most likely outcome is eggs / chicks will
be eaten.
Philip
You must have had a very good education. My teachers
wouldn’t have known a skylark from a sparrow!
John Leonard
On Sun, 10 Feb 2019 at 13:59 Anthea Fleming <>
wrote:
In my schooldays, I was told that the Skylark's long back
toe enabled the bird to move its eggs to a new nest-site, if the old one was
discovered or disturbed.
I have no idea if this is true.
Traditional version of the Skylark's song:
There's not a shoemaker on the earth
can make a shoe to me, to me!
Why so? why so? why so? why so?
Because my heel's as long's my toe!
Anthea Fleming
From: Geoffrey Dabb [
Sent: Sunday, 10 February, 2019 9:46 AM
To: 'Chris Gregory'; 'Philip Veerman'
Cc: 'birding-aus'
Subject: RE: [Birding-Aus] Skylarks on wires
…………….. I came across one
later while looking for a photo of a Skylark in colourful swamp-marsh growth,
for a talk. Werribee is a good place for Skylarks, perhaps the Australian
headquarters. I do also have a photo of a Skylark on a post. Also
on barbed wire showing its remarkably long hind-claws. So far as I can find in
the books, the purpose of these is unknown. Perhaps someone on this list will
know.
Geoffrey
