22/04/2011: Penanti (Penang)

I decided to visit the Oriental Pratincole breeding colony and from the looks of things, I’m pretty sure it will be another successful season. Most of the birds already are or soon will be proud parents to the next generation of these graceful waders.

As it is the breeding season, all the birds in the vicinity are in full breeding plumage. Looking absolutely poised and elegant, they were a delight to photograph.

I managed to locate a few chicks moving around in the colony – under the watchful eye of the parent birds.

Their plumages are well camouflaged with the surrounding environment and that is their main defense against predators.

Although they are quite young in age, these chicks are very alert and observant of what is going on around them. Anything out of the ordinary will go not unnoticed because it is a matter of life or death. Friend or foe?! Friend, most definitely…

The Pratincoles share this breeding ground with the Red-wattled Lapwings. The latter possess a more conventional wader appearance whereas their neighbours look more like oversized Swallows. Another major difference is the fact that the Lapwings do not have to moult into a different plumage during breeding plumage. They look this beautiful the whole year round.

The piercing cries of a Crested Serpent-eagle put the entire colony into a standstill. The chicks of both species remain totally motionless and try their very best not to appear anything even remotely resembling lunch to the raptor. Anyway, it flew past without any incidents. And life goes on…