Barrow, Alaska (2 July,2005)
A graceful tundra nesting bird, putting on a black suit with a golden mant.
Golden Warrior
Look at the gorgeous figure of the bird. It is well dressed in fancy black and gold, which remainds
me of an ancient Samurai Lord. This beautiful bird breeds offspring on far north tundra, as well as many
other shorebirds.
Let's look at a bit of breeding activities for American Golden-Plover!
Barrow, Alaska (2,July,2005) |
In the breeding season on tundra, you may hear a call like a sharp whistle
on your way. Search the direction you hear the call, and you may find the American Golden-Plover,
watching you on a small hump. A. Golden-Plover is one of the species both parents take care of their chicks together. The husband is the watcher, and the wife quickly moves away from their nest when the husband gives alert. |
Barrow, Alaska (3,July,2005) |
They attend to move intruders away from thier nest by showing themselves to attract the enemies. If opponents keep coming to their nest, they start showing their spacial techniques. Picutres on the left show the famous BROKEN WING behavior of A. Golden-Plover. He tried to attract me by pretending to be an injured bird. It must be a dangerous technique because they expose their own bodies to their enemies. Many shorebirds have this technique, and some other species, such as gulls. |
Barrow, Alaska (3,July,2005) |
He laied down on the ground at last. It must be very attractive to his predator. |
Barrow, Alaska (2,July,2005) |
Is this a different technique? It looks like a kind of threat postures rather than the broken wing behavior. The pattern on their wings and tail makes me dizzy. This is a magic... You magician! |
Barrow, Alaska (2,July,2005) |
This is the nest they protect. It's a pretty simple structure, built on the bear ground (usually on the frost boil) covered with moss and lichen. It is well cryptic and not easy to find, though it is exposed on the ground. |
Barrow, Alaska (2,July,2005) |
Chicks. What a beautiful light-green coloration. I agree why their parents
try to protect them hard. Such pretty chicks. This bright green is also a cryptic coloration that might merge into the tundra scenery turned into young leaves' green. |
HOME