To be sure, northern lapwings are strange birds. They lay their eggs on the ground, in the middle of a path, if need be, and after the chicks hatch their main strategy of defense is to abandon them and fly away screaming, hoping to divert the intruder. In the Netherlands collecting lapwings eggs had developed into a macabre springtime tradition, thankfully prohibited by law nowadays (except in the province of Friesland). The impact of human encroachment is nonetheless responsible for the dramatic decline of this bird in the last years.
A male Northern lapwing displaying his long crest and black crown. Of the more than 20 species of lapwings only three have a crest.
While originally marsh birds coots can now be found anywhere there is water in Western Europe. Tough and highly adaptive they found a way into the cities and thrive there. They are aggressive and territorial, especially in the breeding season. Yet coots also have a dark side when it comes to their chicks. They sometimes let them starve or peck them to death when they beg too much for food. This family, however, seems to be doing fine.
