Australian birds - Alissa Duke

Three birds drawn today on a visit to the Australian Museum , with Wendy and Annie. Two hours flew by in no time. We left just as it was getting busy and loud as it is school holidays.

Spur-winged Plovers
The southern subspecies of Maskd Lapwing is also known as the Spur-winged Plover
Average size: 36 cm
Masked Lapwings are large, ground-dwelling birds that are closely related to the waders. The Masked Lapwing is mainly white below, with brown wings and back and a black crown. Birds have large yellow wattles covering the face, and are equipped with a thorny spur that projects from the wrist on each wing. The spur is yellow with a black tip. The Masked Lapwing is common throughout northern, central and eastern Australia. Masked Lapwings are also found in Indonesia, New Guinea, New Caledonia and New Zealand.

Honestly – most people know this bird for it’s defence of its nest. They nest in open areas (such as sports grounds, parks) and will aggressively attack people walking by. I have not had much experience with them, but have seen them in parks. If you mention plovers, people will immediately know the bird you are talking about !
Call : A loud "kekekekekekekek". (I can't seem to insert the audio link)
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Vanellus-miles

Cattle Egret
A relatively small snowy-white egret, the Cattle Egret is distinguished during breeding season by its orange crown, neck and breast, with similarly tinted long loose neck plumes. Originally found in Africa, Europe and Asia, the Cattle Egret is now found on nearly every continent, with birds in Australia originating from Asia.

http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Ardea-ibis



White-browed Scrubwren
Average size: 12 cm

The White-browed Scrubwren is the most common and widespread of Australia's five species of scrubwren. Its range extends from northern Queensland, in a broad coastal band through South Australia to the mid Western Australian coast, and Tasmania.
The White-browed Scrubwren lives in rainforest, open forest, woodland and heaths. It is usually seen in pairs, low down in the thick vegetation. I am sure I would have heard them scurrying in the undergrowth of rainforest, but thy would blend in to the forest floor and look like they would be very active,
The call is an almost persistent harsh chattering of scalding notes, especially when disturbed. White-browed Scrubwrens are also accomplished mimics.
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Sericornis-frontalis

On the difficulties of breeding on a beach

The population of Kentish plovers, a small European wader, is declining throughout its breeding range. As is the case with all disappearing species, the causes are habitat loss, predation, hunting, and in the case of this little guy, disturbance. The Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus, makes its nest in a small depression on sandy beaches by the sea or by inland lakes or estuaries. Both sexes brood the eggs and attend to the chicks. However, not many of the young make it into adulthood. Being trampled by people or predated by dogs, foxes, or crows is a serious problem for this small bird. Conservation measures include fencing the areas where they breed, providing small cages to protect the nest, moving the eggs to a safer place. In the US, there's a very similar American subspecies, the Snowy plover. It, too, faces the same threats as its European cousin.

Kentisch plover

I made some sketches asked me for a scientific publication about kentish plover, that nests on the beach near Rome. They are implementing a project to protect this cute little bird, in Torre Flavia riserve, which nests on the beach. Without any shelter, including twigs and plastic bottles. His fear is the horrible sand harvesters, tractors that sweep away everything that they find in their breeding season.

Lapwings and Plovers

I braved the wind and rain for a short while yesterday and visited one of my local birding areas, just a couple of minutes from home. A large mixed flock of Lapwing and Golden Plover were just above the beach on a muddy inlet and I couldn't resist trying to get some of them down on paper. Not the best sketch I ever did, but given the conditions, I wont be too critical.