Today is Dotterel Day !

Started by Silver Tabby, May 10, 2024, 04:25:28 PM

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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


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.
A missionary from Yorkshire to the primitive people of Lancashire

Scrumpy

All very interesting.. and funny.

The Dotterel bird .. Poor thing.. 
Don't ask me.. I know nuffink..

Silver Tabby

Quote from: JBR on May 10, 2024, 05:13:03 PMBut 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.

Indeed - it is a variety of Plover.

klondike

The question is though is it really stupid enough to be tricked into doing the birdie dance and so ending up in a pie?