As a parent, the black-winged stilt spoils for a fight

While nesting, this bird does not give an inch to “hangers-on”. Here is a taste of the stilt’s parenting

Courtly and suave on the ramp. Bawdy and uncouth around the hearthstone. That is a two-line bio of the adult black-winged stilt — before and after parenthood. The adult black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus) has the air of a long-legged model with nary an inelegant step. Parenthood has a reverse-Cinderella effect on the bird, its quiet demeanour and fluid moves dissipating more quickly than acetone, and replaced by loud-mouthed cavilling and flying fits. The parent black-winged stilt would take off on extremely short almost-parabolic flights — more of a take-off from a trampoline — seeking to “brutalise” hangers-on around its nest. Descending on its “targets” like a parachutist, it however does not quite achieve the intended fire-and-brimstone effect. Just how terrorising can Jughead with his pencil-thin nose get? Add a pair of stalkly legs, and the ludicruity is complete.