My heart beats a little faster when I see exquisite, endangered Hooded Plover chicks.
Hooded Plover (Thinornis rubricollis rubricollis) – chick
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 400
This week I spent a few hours at the beach when time stood still despite the setting sun.
My friend Sue (a Hoodie Watch volunteer) and I sat well outside the fenced hoodie refuge and held our breaths until we’d counted the three little fluff balls of hoodie chick that had just hatched.
Hooded Plover (Thinornis rubricollis rubricollis)
1/800, f/5.6, ISO 800
At one point Sue went to chat with people about keeping their dogs on leads when this adult hoodie flew over my head and landed facing the walkers. At first I wasn’t sure if it was a third adult but realised it was one of the parent birds when it started leading the walkers along the beach, away from the chicks. This fascinating behaviour is linked to the injured wing display that some birds use to attract attention to themselves rather than their families. The interesting thing with hoodies is that they are so small that people rarely spot them, even when they are trying to be seen.
One family with two young girls were delighted to see the chicks. The girls were gorgeous and asked what they could do to help the hoodies – it’s definitely cool to care.
Happy birding
Kim
PS for more images of hoodies and a wealth of information please check a previous post 3, 2, 1, 0 sadness
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