Baby Plovers Come Home

I filmed this very protective Masked Lapwing as it anxiously watched on waiting for its 4 newly hatched chicks to return to the safety of their home, tucked under its wings.
Masked lapwings are shy and harmless in summer and autumn but this behavoir totally changes when nesting begins.
The nesting pair will defend their territory against all intruders by calling loudly, spreading their wings, and then swooping fast and low, and where necessary striking at interlopers with their feet and attacking animals including humans on the ground with a conspicuous yellow spur on the carpal joint of the wing.

[@Gazman_Melb]

Stick legs! I love these feathered friends. ❤

[@barbaramckay618]

I just witnessed this scene today in my backyard - 4 baby chicks. Just hope they get to safety tomorrow away from predators.

[@findmyaustralia3767]

The parent are very protective and will swoop any threats. They have large spurs in their wings for defence

[@tinarashidi8892]

obviously next to the road, I just wish they nest in better places😭

[@findmyaustralia3767]

Only ever on the ground usually parks or golf courses on the fairways

[@MrTripleXXX]

As a kid we had a plover make a nest by the road just outside our neighbours yard. A few days later we found someone had run the parent plover over with their car... we found out our neighbour did it. What an asshole. Makes me so angry.
Animals are just trying to survive. They don't do these fucked up things that some of us humans do.

[@GeckoTech_Engineer]

I wish they would do it in a more secure place than in the middle of an open area instead of just making it everyone’s problem

[@chinacomesmuffin6756]

They nested in the middle of my schools soccer field 💀

[@serdavosseaworth6115]

Yes, they nest in stupid spots, right next our helicopter pad on an exposed windy gravel bank.

[@goldenemerald830]

Aw! They're so cute and fluffy! ❤

[@vanessapitt9886]

Our local Pet Barn has plovers nesting right above the entrance!!😂😂

[@stephenpowell5912]

Such a wee Darling ,So adorable 🥰😍❤

[@crazyman1650]

Once I watched a baby plover accidentally get killed at a footy oval and I have no clue how to get that image out of my head

[@garynewton1263]

Awesome. I loved Masked Lapwings (Stick legs!). 😉✌

[@victoriawu3826]

Wonderful

[@fabriglas]

They love short grass...

[@SantiLawson]

The other day I saw 4, than few days later I saw 1. I hope just somewhere, not eaten by other creatures.

[@CarloFerraro]

Wrong title, they "they come to Dad"......read a bit of their Biology....please

[@MabelPinesxntxp]

Woow

[@SantiLawson]

95% that's horrible dooodes..plover can stay with us..

[@GeckoTech_Engineer]

I hear corellas

[@jakenorthbriz]

Vicious birds bloody plovers

[@scribbleswithjago4472]

No they are cute

[@Tn-qr1kb]

They aren’t vicious, they are only protective of their kids. They’re actually harmless. And it’s called self defence, if you’ve ever heard of it

[@GeckoTech_Engineer]

@@Tn-qr1kbthey still scary

[@Freefs1]

@@Tn-qr1kbyou havent met real plovers