Cute Now But Just Wait ...

[Mad Aussie]

... until they grow up!

This little ball of down has been running around our neighbourhood lately. He's a baby Masked Lapwing (also called Plover over here) and will grow up ugly like his mother there.
These birds are very aggressive when they have a chick and will swoop people repeatedly after the use of all manner of decoy tricks has failed them from stopping you get too close. They have big wing spurs that can obviously do a bit of damage as the last photo (one I've posted here previously) shows.

[Wicked Dark]

woah, that's quite a change from cutie-patootie to daunting helmet bird complete with wing spikes. What is with those? Leave it to Austrailia.

[Mad Aussie]

woah, that's quite a change from cutie-patootie to daunting helmet bird complete with wing spikes. What is with those? Leave it to Austrailia.

They try to dig those spurs into you as they buzz the tower (your head usually) to scare you away

[Hillbillygirl]

Cute little bugger for sure, but you are right in the parent part. Definitely built for the fight aren't they?

[Marko]

Shot 3 looks pretty intense - Dig the set!

[Mad Aussie]

Thanks Marko and HBG .... yes ... they are intense and built for fighting ... that one had just spent several minutes swooping me. In fact, he was so pissed off that after swooping me on one pass he noticed a family walking along a track about 50m away and attacked them as well!!

[Iguanasan]

Nice shots and what a crazy bird! That last shot is awesome and you certainly look in danger!

[Matt K.]

Cool set. Love the last one of the series. Tack sharp and wonderful bokeh.

[Kawarthabob]

Very cool set! Thanks for sharing these. What a weird looking bird!

[Mad Aussie]

Thanks Guys.

To be honest ... I've never actually heard of anyone being hurt by these birds. I've been hit a couple of times myself but they are just 'brush bys' really ... designed to deter rather than hurt I think. Our magpies are far more dangerous hurting many people each breeding season.