I have done a number of studies of this species. Formally known as the Blacksmith Plover (a name I grew up with and prefer), it was a relatively common bird I would see when I was out exploring places around Johannesburg. Instantly recognizable with its mostly black and white plumage coupled with a strident call, the sound of which invokes that of a blacksmith tapping his hammer on an anvil (thus giving it its name). These birds never seemed to be far from water so that is how I designed my painting - the bird standing in shallow water. Not that I looked very hard at the time, but I never found a nest or even remember seeing chicks of the species. This is probably due to the adults giving warning calls whenever one approached their territory and even using a display to draw you away from the nest area. I would have liked to had done more studies of them, especially of their chicks which I think are especially cute - to use a non-ornithological term!
For me, this bird not only harks back to my childhood but also points to the incredible diversity of fauna and flora South Africa has to offer. Size is about 11 x 8.5 in (28 x 22 cm), watercolor on paper.
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