Back to list
Northern Lapwing

Northern Lapwing

3,604 30

Mark Billiau.


Premium (World), region Antwerp, Belgium

Northern Lapwing

The Northern Lapwing is a familiar wader of open farmland and meadows and is being found from Western Europe to the Pacific coast of Russia in the east.

The population of this species has dropped with 50% the last 25 years as a result of intensive agricultural techniques and an overuse of fertilisers and pesticides.

In the Netherlands there is a yearly competition to find the first Lapwing egg of the year. It is especially popular in the province Friesland but there are also regional competitions.
The gathering of Lapwing eggs is prohibited by the European Union but Friesland was granted an exception for……. cultural-historical reasons (grrrr !!!!)

Dutch name : Kievit
German name : Kiebitz
Latin name : Vanellus vanellus

Comments 30

  • ev@w. 19/04/2016 23:42

    wow... PERFEKT ist diese nah-aufnahme !!
    beste detail-schärfe und sehr schöne, natürliche farben !!
    lieben gruß
  • Irbenika 25/05/2011 12:39

    Great picture!! I've never heard before about the unusual competition in the Netherlands

    Irb
  • iacob ion 24/05/2011 19:48

    Well seen in the light...seems upset:))
    Best wishes,Iacob
  • Sylvia Schulz 24/05/2011 16:44

    wunderbar hast Du ihn erwischt Mark, dazu auch sein Blick, einfach klasse,
    es grüßt Sylvia
  • John Mc D 24/05/2011 8:49

    Excellent capture
  • Massimo Gherardi 23/05/2011 22:20

    Very beautiful portrait with great lighting, excellent work!
    Bw Massimo
  • Rackerli 23/05/2011 21:22

    Great capture! Great job!
    Gisela
  • JESUS MARTIN HERNANDEZ 23/05/2011 21:22

    Excelente captura con una luz, color y nitidez magnificas
    saludos
  • Adele D. Oliver 23/05/2011 21:21

    A great dignified look on this bird - so unusual for me to see ... a fine capture, Mark ... sharp and nicely lit!!!
    greetings, Adele
  • Mauro Stradotto 23/05/2011 20:44

    Molto graziosa e simpatica la tua modella,
    interessante la tua spiegazione!
    Saluti cari,
    Mauro
  • Vitória Castelo Santos 23/05/2011 19:47

    It`s lovely mark !!!!!
    Regards
    Vitoria
  • Heinz Janovsky 23/05/2011 18:50

    In einem sehr schönen Licht festgehalten.
    Gruß Heinz
  • Vera M. Shulga 23/05/2011 18:02

    Awesome bird...
    Well capture.
    Wonderful presentation.
  • s. sabine krause 23/05/2011 17:39

    a precious rarity!!! i've never seen one in the wild – they seem quite big! and this one here is giving you a skeptical look – maybe he suspects you of secretely trailing him to his nest to snatch that first lapwing egg away from him ; )) – we all know you woulnd't though! ; )) greetings, sabine. p.s.: really enjoyed reading your text! never knew that there was such a tradition at all – must be some kind of ancient spring/fertility rite…
  • Deryck 23/05/2011 16:04

    Such a lovely shot of this Lapwing. We have very different species. Excellent work Mark
    Deryck