Cute Now But Just Wait ...

[Mad Aussie]

... until they grow up!

This little ball of down has been running around our neighbourhood lately. He's a baby Masked Lapwing (also called Plover over here) and will grow up ugly like his mother there.
These birds are very aggressive when they have a chick and will swoop people repeatedly after the use of all manner of decoy tricks has failed them from stopping you get too close. They have big wing spurs that can obviously do a bit of damage as the last photo (one I've posted here previously) shows.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6141/5929524474_3ac37de887_o.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6141/5929524684_0853bf649e_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3075/3133646095_78ac001032_o.jpg

[Wicked Dark]

woah, that's quite a change from cutie-patootie to daunting helmet bird complete with wing spikes. What is with those? Leave it to Austrailia.

[Mad Aussie]

woah, that's quite a change from cutie-patootie to daunting helmet bird complete with wing spikes. What is with those? Leave it to Austrailia.
They try to dig those spurs into you as they buzz the tower (your head usually) to scare you away :)

[Hillbillygirl]

Cute little bugger for sure, but you are right in the parent part. Definitely built for the fight aren't they?

[Marko]

Shot 3 looks pretty intense - Dig the set!

[Mad Aussie]

Thanks Marko and HBG .... yes ... they are intense and built for fighting ... that one had just spent several minutes swooping me. In fact, he was so pissed off that after swooping me on one pass he noticed a family walking along a track about 50m away and attacked them as well!!

[Iguanasan]

Nice shots and what a crazy bird! That last shot is awesome and you certainly look in danger! :eek:

[Matt K.]

Cool set. Love the last one of the series. Tack sharp and wonderful bokeh.

[Kawarthabob]

Very cool set! Thanks for sharing these. What a weird looking bird!

[Mad Aussie]

Thanks Guys.

To be honest ... I've never actually heard of anyone being hurt by these birds. I've been hit a couple of times myself but they are just 'brush bys' really ... designed to deter rather than hurt I think. Our magpies are far more dangerous hurting many people each breeding season.

[aubintbay]

Wow. What a difference. Odd looking bird for sure.

[Mad Aussie]

This poor little guy looks to be an ugly cousin of the birds above. However, and sadly, this is an injured Banded lapwing that usually looks much prettier than the Masked lapwings. He's had his head bitten or something which has stretched his eye surrounds. There's usually more head above.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6130/5931599683_7e62d9f5af_o.jpg

[JAS_Photo]

Cool set, M.A! Poor guy in the last pic. :(

[Mad Aussie]

Thanks JAS. I took that last photo when I was in Western Australia a couple of years ago. AT the time I didn't realise he was injured and have wondered exactly what he was all this time. Yesterday I figured it out. Such an injury, yet he seemed to function perfectly well.

[asnow]

WOW. That is a strange looking bird. Almost looks like a bird made by a committee. Amazing difference from when they are young.
I'm surprised the injured bird is still alive an functioning well. It looks like quite a serious injury.

[Mad Aussie]

WOW. That is a strange looking bird. Almost looks like a bird made by a committee.
Yeh except if it was made a committee it wouldn't be able to fly, reproduce, and would take an age to make the simpliest decision, which would, of course, benefit nobody at all but would, of course, cost way too much for way too little. :)

[Iguanasan]

Yeh except if it was made a committee it wouldn't be able to fly, reproduce, and would take an age to make the simpliest decision, which would, of course, benefit nobody at all but would, of course, cost way too much for way too little. :)

Sounds like my office.