As soon as possible I got in the car and drove over to Tin Can Bay to the address they had given me. It was a most unlikely place to find a shorebird – several blocks back from the shoreline – and shorebirds like to stay close to the water! Their driveway has a median strip of stones between the concrete and as I got out of the car I saw a little dark ‘bump’ only a little bit bigger than the surrounding stones. This was the bird – a Red-capped Plover.
For a nest the bird had a tiny depression between the stones. The bird had become used to sharing the yard with humans and it did not move from the nest the whole time I was there. I went quite close to get photos and it did lift up just enough for me to glimpse two eggs under it. Helen said that their road is quiet and there appeared to be no roaming cats and dogs. Here's hoping that this bird manages to raise its young from this most unusual nesting place.
Lets hope they all survive. Will be interesting to see how they go.
ReplyDeleteRather problematic I would say. I wonder if a wire enclosure of the kind that is used to protect the Hooded Plover when they are nesting might be a good idea.
ReplyDeleteMuch as we love 'em, gotta admit some creatures have rocks in the head - and the nest!
ReplyDeleteVery apt, Tony!
ReplyDeleteNice photo of the Red-capped Plover Mick. I would think dogs and cats would be its worst problem. I hope they are watching it closely and have calculated the hatch day. It always helps when you have a bird nesting like this to have some idea when the young will hatch.
ReplyDeleteThis is a common occurrence with Killdeer in our area, nesting on graveled roads.
You'll have to go back and get shots of the babies! What a cute little fellow.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting Larry and Halcyon. I know other kinds of birds do nest in strange places like this but it is certainly the first time I have ever seen - or heard of - Red-capped Plovers doing this.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing the places some birds choose to build their nests.
ReplyDeleteHi John, it will be interesting to see if the nesting is successful - and beyond that if the young ones make it as far as the water which is quite a distance away.
ReplyDeleteLovely to see such faith in humanity.
ReplyDeleteHope it all works out, Mick.
Hi Denis, that's a very nice way to look at it. I went to check on the bird yesterday and Helen and Steve have now parked their car across the bottom of the drive so that no-one can accidentally drive over the bird. Plus all the neighbors have come to look and admire. Here's hoping!
ReplyDelete