it's the time of year when the masked lapwing plovers are out in force protecting their baby chicks by warning, or swooping, anyone who comes within their perceived boundaries. it amazes me how bold plovers can be and it's not uncommon for them to take up nesting residence in the middle of building sites, busy street intersections, or even a patch of dirt in an open field. this can make life quite unnerving for both them and the people passing through their claimed territory. it's a common perception that plovers will attack and jab you with the poisonous spike on their wing but, in truth, it is extremely rare to hear of a plover actually making contact at all when they swoop.
pencil-free sketch using pigma micron pens & watercolours in A4 sketchbook
i'm known as 'the plover lady' in these parts probably because i find myself constantly defending plovers against kids who seem to take great delight in going out of their way to harass or harm them. in the four years we've lived here, i know of instances where kids have killed plover babies or have broken the wings of the adult birds, on top of their constant harassment. i've had to call the RSPCA out a couple of times to take away injured birds and it makes me wonder what some parents are teaching their kids in regards to respecting the life and well-being of all creatures, great and small. for 6 - 8 weeks each year, i'm sure we could all be a little more understanding to the plovers' needs.
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week 35 in the 52 weeks of me project
quiet reflection
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mikayla enjoying a delicious gingernut biscuit- too CUTE!
see more mikayla pics on michelle's blog - here.
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i hope you all enjoy a beautiful weekend!
our weekend starts tomorrow....YAY!
our weekend starts tomorrow....YAY!
~ love, light and peace ~
What a beautiful sketch of plovers. I can't believe that children could be so cruel towards even young birds - that's awful. I'm glad they have you to defend them. x
ReplyDeleteThat's horrible that those kids kill and maim the plovers! I agree. Where are their parents? What have they taught them? I'd be defending the birds, too. They are protected by law, so why aren't other people saying and doing something, too? What a shame. It pains me when people don't respect life.
ReplyDeleteYour drawing is beautiful, tho. Love your self portrait pic!! I have already been over to Michelle's blog and saw all the milestones pics of Mikayla! :)
Have a glorious weekend!! *hugs* :):)
Good for you for protecting the birds. I never understand cruelty to any living thing. It's so senseless.
ReplyDeleteYour drawing is beautiful, and so too is the quiet reflection photo. And you know I think Mikayla is just about the cutest baby there is! Just look at those gorgeous eyes!!
How can young kids think it is funny to hurt a small animal? I don't understand that. My kids would never even think to do anything like that. I just had a conversation tonight with a friend who finds dead swallows every day because young Kuwaiti boys are shooting them with sling shots. Just awful! I love your drawings and the fact that you are protecting wildlife. Hope you have a great weekend. Best wishes, Tammy
ReplyDeleteMikayla is such a beautiful girl! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteOh I am so glad you are the Plover lady. I am glad you are protecting them when you can. Your drawing is beautiful too.
ReplyDeleteWe have rescued a kestrel and a hawk before that had broken wings. It feels so good to be able to help these magnificent birds.
Kate
I’ve enjoyed catching up with your blog after my holiday. Take care of yourself.
ReplyDeletePeople who are mean to animals.... make me absolutely sick.
ReplyDeleteEven as a kid...I ..(and my siblings) were dangerous when provoked by kids that did mean things to animals .... once we caught a kid tying up a cat. We got our long skipping rope and tied him up...and strung him upside down from his Mom's clothesline pole. There was a lot of screaming and crying. The woman was more upset with us than with what he had done... but, when she came to our front door to tell Mom what we had done ....she got the tongue lashing of her life from our Mom... who used to go totally berserk if she saw people abusing animals. Yaaay Mom.....
I had never heard of Plovers. They aren't here in Ohio. lol
ReplyDeleteSad that they can be abused by kids. It sure takes some education.
Lovely sketch!
Out of all the beautiful things that you create, I love the self portraits the most.
ReplyDeletesweet grandbaby...I can never understand the harming of any of god's creatures..take care
ReplyDelete*Waves hello* :)
ReplyDeleteI think it's wrong that parents aren't teaching their children to respect animals and treat them right; I'd be furious if I had a child who was caught being cruel to animals like that!
What beautiful sketches!
ReplyDeletebeautiful pen sketches! I love your work and your blog!
ReplyDeleteTerrific sketches Serena. I remember seeing the plovers when we were camping a few years ago but I never knew they had a poisonous barb in their wing.
ReplyDeleteYou are right Serena to ask the question of what those kids are being taught at home. How cruel. They should be caught and made to look after the plovers as community service.
gorgeous photo of Mikayla and I love the serenity in your self portrait photo.
Lee:)
Hehe! Look at my cheeky monkey. Great sketches! I honestly don't get how someone can hurt another living creature.
ReplyDelete