Today is Dotterel Day !

[Silver Tabby]

I am sure you all know this but - just in case ...

"The Dotterel is a stupid bird, but excellent meat, and with us accounted a great delicacy. It is taken in the night time by the light of candle, by imitating the gestures of the fowler: for if he stretches out an arm, the bird stretches out a wing; if he a foot, that likewise a foot, in brief, whatever the fowler doth, the same doth the bird; and so being intent upon men's gestures, it is deceived and covered with the net spread for it"

Willoughby - Ornithology 1678.

[klondike]

Common knowledge indeed.

I'm sure others have heard of the now exceedingly rare Oozlum bird which had the unfortunate affliction of flying round in ever decreasing circles until eventually it disappeared.

Plus many will have heard the plaintive cry of the Ooomebumbum bird which has very short legs causing it problems when landing on rocky ground.

[Alex]

You two are worrying me 

[JBR]

But there is a Dotterel bird!
The other two mentioned, however, are only make-believe, especially the Oozlum bird which has the impossible task of disappearing up its own backside.
Logically, you'd imagine it would effectively turn itself inside-out.

[Scrumpy]

All very interesting.. and funny.

The Dotterel bird .. Poor thing..