Five percent, that’s all that remains after thirty years of brutal decline. Five percent of the Northern Lapwings we once had in Norway. A dramatic decline caused by changes in agricultural practices such as increased mowing, spreading of manure, drainage, intensification, and mechanization, but also habitat destruction and urbanization. And the 100,000 lapwings hunted each year in France, some of which are Norwegian, certainly don’t help, especially considering that the breeding population is currently around 5,000 individuals.
The Northern Lapwing, which prefers open habitats with low vegetation, is thought to have originated in the Asian steppes. Over the last three centuries, its populations have spread into Western Europe thanks to changes in agricultural practices, the opening up of landscapes, and the development of pastures and wet meadows. During the 19th century it spread to Northern Europe, reaching a peak in Norway during the 1970s.
A Northern Lapwing’s nest in the middle of an agricultural meadow.
Over time, this bird has held a special place in the hearts of locals and farmers. Its presence heralds spring. Its song and flight were ever-present in the countryside. It could be seen around tractors, in fields, and along roadsides. They would swoop down on cyclists and walkers to defend their territory. In short, it has become one of those iconic species that everyone knows and to which many are attached.
Thus, its gradual disappearance has not gone unnoticed. Voices have been raised, and lacking the ability or the will to immediately rethink the entire agricultural system and our relationship with nature, as is often the case, emergency measures were necessary. These include surveying and inventorying the lapwings’ locations, their nests, the number of chicks, and the survival rate, among other things. There is also collaboration with farmers who help locate the nests and place metal discs to protect them during spreading. And even, placing cages (through which only lapwings can pass) on the nests most threatened by foxes, badgers, and corvids. We can no longer even allow natural predators to play their part, as these populations have become so fragile. Every nest counts.
Nests can sometimes be difficult to find. In the most vulnerable areas, a cage is placed over the nest to prevent predators from eating the eggs, while still allowing the adults to enter. After installation, observation from a distance is required to ensure the parents return to the nest. If they do not, the cage is removed immediately.
All of this requires a lot of people, time, and energy. That’s why, a few years ago, Birdlife Norway initiated this lapwing project. A wonderful project that encourages naturalists and farmers to collaborate across the country for this much-loved bird. Collaborations like these are so necessary because they foster discussion, mutual understanding, and thus help to dismantle the preconceived ideas that are so detrimental to many nature conservation projects.
Hence this watercolor.
I created this painting to help raise funds and generate interest in the lapwing, but also, as always, more broadly, to encourage reflection on our relationship with nature.
This watercolor depicts the different stages of the Northern Lapwing’s life, from the male’s courtship displays to the nest and chicks, also showing the male and female perched and in flight to help distinguish them. It comes with a small leaflet containing the painting’s legend and some additional information. This leaflet is available in English, French and Norwegian.
The prints I offer for sale are produced by a laboratory specializing in art reproduction. Each print is printed on fine art paper using techniques and pigments that guarantee a lifespan of at least 100 years. Each print is signed by me. They are initially available in 21 x 30 cm (350 NOK, approximately €30 + shipping) and 30 x 40 cm (500 NOK, approximately €45 + shipping) sizes, but larger sizes are available upon request. Simply contact me directly.
Buy a print and support the protection of the Northern Lapwing in Norway
