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Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

Published on Project Noah
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Spotting Video

Field Notes

Description:

David against Goliath! Have a look at the whole series and find out why this pair of Crowned lapwings are so frantically agitating around this juvenile elephant.

Habitat:

Savannah, Marai Mara.

Notes:

Crowned Lapwings prefer short dry grassland for their nests, and can become aggressive and territorial. The elephant was "defeated" and moved on, and the eggs were safe. Photographed from the top of a vehicle from a distance using a telelens.
For elephants in a neighboring area see http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7367379
Apologies for the quality of the short video (lots of shake, filmed at the long end of a 500mm zoom) but it gives an idea of the energy the bird was putting in keeping the elephant away.

Reference Links:

Crowned Lapwing

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (58)
Neil Ross
This is brilliant, Daniele. These birds know no fear. I've seen them go for people, dogs, cars, ride-on lawn mowers... and now an elephant. They have earned my respect as protective parents.
Caleb Steindel
the only thing i want to know is WHY THE HECK DIDN'T I FAVORITE THIS EARLIER!!!!
Leuba Ridgway
Just fantastic, Daniele. Just came across this one- belated Congratulations ! I am glad the elephant moved away. These lapwings seem the same all over the world - mad !!
DonnaBollenbach
Great story and happy ending. Congratulations on the SOTD. Well deserved!
TL
wonderful, and congrats!
NeilDazet
Way to go Daniele! Another SOTD for ya! I just played the video of the bird and my cats immediately went crazy! :-)
Carol Snow Milne
Congratulations on this totally amazing spot. SOTD. Great job! Very interesting. Wonderful to have video too.
Fyn Kynd
Awesome spotting, congratulations DanielePralong! Very unique.
AntónioGinjaGinja
Daniele my friend :-) great capture,beautiful situation,congrats on the SOTD,thanks for sharing such a amazing spotting page
Harsha Singh
The bird sounds very angry! Congrats Daniele.
ceherzog
That is a great series...the ground nesting birds sure have a tough way of it. Congrats!
DanielePralong
Thank you very much Karen and everyone for your kind words. Shanna, we spotted the eggs with binoculars but our Masai spotter hinted that the birds would be protecting a nest. None of us saw anything first and we were just watching a small group of elephants from a distance, and were alerted by the noise. I have added a short video: the quality is bad as there is a lot of shake (filmed at the long end on a 500mm zoom but it gives an idea of the energy the bird was putting in keeping the elephant away).
arlanda
Congratulations !! Great spotting!!!
ShannaB
Great series Daniele!!! How on earth did you spot the eggs from such a distance?! (Lapwings will chase anything, they are so scary!!)
duttagupta35504
Wow.... that is one angry bird! Love the story it tells too.
Josh Asel
Daniele, this is incredible. Congratulations!
Arun
Great spotting ... Congratulations !!
Jolly Ibañez
Congratulations Daniele. Beautiful documentation.
Scott Frazier
Nice, a spotting with a story! Congratulations, Daniele!
Atul
Congratulations Daniele :) awesome spotting .!
YukoChartraw
Congratulations Daniele! You're such an amazing story-teller! I hope the eggs were safe!
SanabriaCamilo
One of the best photo series that I have seen in project Noah, congratulations. There is a very similar species in the savannahs of Colombia and Venezuela, physically and behaviorally...
KarenSaxton
Gorgeous series and I love the 5th photo as a portrait of the lapwing.
ChunXingWong
Thank God, David didn't kill Goliath this time. We are running out of giants !
KarenL
Congratulations Daniele! This amazing series has earned you a well-deserved spotting of the day! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152655447175603&set=a.10152383557885603.943728.10150120463815603&type=1 https://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/313118705053741056
DanielePralong
Thank you everyone! Seema, the elephant was actually more stunned than the bird!
Seema
the bird looks surprised..perhaps, the big foot stunned it

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2013 Best Wildlife Photo

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PublishedMarch 15, 2013

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