Native Land: World-wide with the exception of Antarctica Native Habitat:  near water, usually lakes or slow rivers Classification:  Order Charadriiformes, Family Charadriidae (66 species) Diet:  insects, invertebrates, fish, some seed Ratings:  Care - medium, Space Requirements - large, Pet Quality - none, Voice - ................generally quiet but can be loud at times

Uncommonly Kept No  one  can  say  that  this  family of birds is popular with aviculturists, and they are only occasionally  available.   A  few are imported here  and there,  and some are being domestically  bred  by  private  individuals as well as zoos in the USA.  Most of the birds can only  be found in zoological parks where they can  provide  them  with the large enclosures they require.     While not to be considered beginner's birds, plovers and lapwings, or spurwings, are generally     hardy     and    undemanding  to   maintain; worthy of aviculturist's attention.

Blacksmith Plovers We were lucky to obtain some imported Blacksmith Plovers years ago and cannot imagine our  aviaries  without  them  now  as they are so striking in appearance and personality.  Blacksmith  Plovers (Vanellus armatus) are native to Africa's dry scrubland lake shores, and are really considered lapwings since they have large spurs or sharp, bony projections on the wrists of their wings.  Blacksmiths are named for their alarm call that sounds like the clinking of a blacksmith's hammer on an anvil.  Normally completely silent, when they do their metallic, clicking alarm, it can be heard for quite a distance.  Day and night, they are our  "watchdog" birds  at  our aviaries as no strange person or animal can approach the aviaries without them warning us with their  cries.  The only other sound they make is an occasional five-note contact call.  Not birds for those people with complaining neighbors, these birds can keep up the alarm call for long periods of time if nervous.     Each plover has a distinct personality.  Our female, Caroline, is the nervous one who clinks at the slightest distrubance, even routine cleaning.  She will threaten the offender, rushing at him with lowered head.  Even after five years, she will still not take mealworms from our hands but stands, clicking, until we toss them to her.  Her mate, Charles, is calmer, eating out of our hands eagerly, and will only clink for serious intrusions.     Blacksmiths  are  alert  and  active, constantly wary, even at night.  They seem to never sleep.  They are tolerant of cold weather and have to be forced to take shelter in from the rain.   Although  they  enjoy  bathing in the shallow parts of ponds or their water dishes, they do not like to be misted or sprayed with water.  They will walk in very shallow water and  wiggle their feet in the mud, one foot at a time, in front of them to grab any yummy tidbits they find.  They do not have long bills to probe through mud or deep water.   Blacksmiths  usually  live  in  pairs  or small groups in the wild.  They are very aloof with one  another,  never  allopreening  o r even  resting  near  each  other.   When  we tried introducing  another  male to an enclosure with an established pair that had never bred, the lone male was instantly and unrelentingly attacked by both birds in a coordinated effort, even after being in a "howdy cage" at first.  It was interesting to observe how bonded the pair was even though they seemed to totally ignore each other.

Male and female Blacksmith Plovers look alike (monomorphic).

Housing Plovers and Lapwings Large  and  open  is the key to housing plovers and lapwings as it makes the birds very nervous to be in a confined or covered space.  They stay in the open areas and avoid tall plants and other barriers to their vision.  Dirt flooring with short plants for ground cover is the  preferred substrate.  Plovers stay on the ground almost continuously unless scared into  flight.    Ponds  and waterfalls are enjoyed by plovers for bathing and foraging, but they do not swim.   They  can  be  housed easily with many other bird species as they do not compete with perch  space.  Other ground birds should only be housed with them if there is adequate space  for  all.  They  can  get  aggressive  during breeding but otherwise do not bother smaller birds that come to water or food dishes on the ground as long as the birds keep some distance between themselves and the plovers.  Plovers will kill small ground birds such as button quail if given the chance.

Diet The staple diet for plovers and lapwings in captivity is a dry pelleted diet and livefood.  We feed  ours  a  mixture of Kaytee Exact Mynah, BEVO Universal, and Purina Trout Chow brands.  Livefood is given frequently and is varied including mealworms, waxworms, small goldfish or guppies, and crickets.  Soaked pellets, chopped beefheart, hard-boiled egg, and smelt are also offered.

Breeding   Plovers and lapwings are not great nestmakers, and usually the site is no more than a small scrape on the bare ground positioned near a water source.  Some species add a few leaves or grasses to line the site.  Plovers and lapwings are not the easiest to breed in captivity and raising the chicks to maturity can be tricky.  Lots of privacy and small livefood such as small guppies and tubifex worms is required.

More Information Not much has been written about this family of birds in aviculture.  To learn more about plovers and lapwings, the following are recommended:   1.  Vince,  Martin.  Softbills - Care,  Breeding  and  Conservation.    Hancock House          ...........................Publishers, Blaine, WA, USA.  1996.   2.  Johnson, Ron.  "Artifical Incubation and Hand-rearing of Red-Wattled Lapwings".  A.F.A. ...........................Watchbird.  Volume XVI, Number 6.  Dec/Jan 1990, Page 4.

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