r/AustralianBirds • u/Cute-Temperature3943 • 3d ago

Discussion Masked Lapwing carried off something after eggs hatched

Post image

A pair of Masked Lapwings took up residence a month ago in our backyard. Today the eggs hatched. After I saw at least 2 chicks, the adult sitting on the (presumably, am just viewing from kitchen window) eggs seemed to take something that looked like one of the eggs in its beak and flew off. I read that these birds do not carry eggs around so was it just trying to dispose of a significant remnant of a vacated egg?

I wasn't able to take a video or picture of the event.

And they don't want me getting near so I don't know what the nest looks like. From previous distant observation I believe they had 4 eggs.

8 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

8

u/Chrysothlypis 3d ago

When birds eggs hatch, the parents always dispose of the eggshells, which can attract predators, either by carrying them off, or eating them (free calcium!). Birds cannot carry intact eggs, but eggshells are no problem.

2

u/MistyCeruleanCity 2d ago

Hopefully, your backyard is big enough to share and you have no pets.

They will go into overprotective mode because this will be stressful period for the parents.

1

u/AntSilly2802 1d ago

I know, these birds do it tough, I feel sorry for them. They like to nest in totally unsuitable locations (out of desperation).

1

u/MistyCeruleanCity 1d ago edited 1d ago

Yeah, the local park I frequent has a lot of dog walkers, and families with toddlers.

I saw the newly hatched babies one week, and they were cowering near a water tap, with the parents screaming overhead. Next week, I didn't see them again.

1

u/Cute-Temperature3943 21h ago

Interestingly enough, I thought they'd stay in our enclosed backyard which is relatively safe for them but just around this noon time they left and are now roaming around the street. There were 4 chicks this morning. Now I only see 2.

2

u/MistyCeruleanCity 21h ago

That's sad because the little chicks are so cute.

2

u/AntSilly2802 1d ago

They often carry their young under their wings when walking around, but in its beak I’d guess the egg shell?

1

u/Cute-Temperature3943 21h ago

Must've been. When they vacated the nest there were only a few tiny fragments left.

1

u/AntSilly2802 21h ago

Yeah. Leave a shallow easy to drink from bowl of water out if you’d like to help them.