Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Hiding in plain sight

Lapwings are a ground-nesting group of birds that live in open areas of marshes, grasslands and beaches. However open their nests are they are very clever at evading humans and predators, protecting their eggs and chicks. Some lapwings have adapted to dwell very close to human establishments, like the red wattled lapwing in the photo, with little concerns of the human proximity. It is a fine example of how some animals blend with human presence if their ways of life are left undisturbed.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2022
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Hambantota, Sri Lanka
Camera: ILCE-9
Copyright: © Asitha Dissanayake