We have a pair of Spur winged plovers living in a cleared area next to where we live. The adults have just produced two chicks. One is quite a lot older then the the other one going by the size. What worries us now is about 3 days ago one of the adults seems to have disappeared leaving the other one to be the full time carer of the chicks. Is this normal. We did hear a look of noise about 3 nights ago and wondered if a predator had grab one of the adults while safe guarding the chicks. The bird left nevers leaves the chicks for one instance and keeps calling to them while they are feeding thoughout the day. They come up quite close in the mornings and we keeps very still so as to admire these great creatures.