Northern Lapwing

Notes:

Harvesting eggs! In the Netherlands there is a cultural-historical competition to finds the first peewit egg of the year (het eerste kievitsei). It is especially popular in Friesland province, but there are also regional competitions. The gathering of peewit eggs is prohibited by the European Union, but Friesland was granted an exception for cultural-historical reasons. The Frisian exception was removed in 2005 by a court, which determined that the Frisian executive councillors had not properly followed procedure. As of 2006 it is again allowed to look for peewit eggs between 1 March and 9 April, though the actual harvest of those eggs is now forbidden. The first egg of 2008 was found on 3 March, in Eemnes, Utrecht, as was the first egg of 2009 found on 8 March. Over the last century, the first peewit egg is found earlier and earlier. This is caused both by increase use of fertiliser and climate change.