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Lapwing nest

 

Lapwing

Kiivitaja

Vanellus vanellus

 

Lapwings are very good at getting people away from their nests in open landscapes. When they discover a possible threat they leave the nest when the intruder is some hundred meters away and fly away to observe quietly what happens. Some lapwings already have chicks; then the behaviour of the birds changes – the intruder is pursued with loud calls in flight to draw attention to itself and sometimes the stranger is even attacked. The lapwing pair chases ravens and crows as well as gulls off from their territory...

 

Lapwing chick

 

Lapwings prefer nesting in low, rather wet areas with not too long grass, but they can make do in other environments. Week-old lapwing chicks are already quite enterprising, making quite long hikes to new feeding places. When threatened the chicks scatter, running and hiding themselves very successfully.

 

Lapwing with chick

In mid-June the young birds fledge, and the most dangerous period is over. A few more weeks are spent near the nesting place. In July we see flocks of lapwings gathering in good feeding areas.