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Description

The beach is a pretty popular destination for those who visit the coast, at least from what I have seen. Sun, sand and surf as they as they say! Get a clear sky with the sun shining, and the ocean right there for all the swimming and shenanigans you want. At least if you are a human or other such fleshy creature. For us dryads? Not so much. Saltwater doesn't agree with us, but a bright sun and warm sand is pretty inviting! So if you ever see dryads show up on a popular beach, you can be sure they will be setting up shop way aways from the waves and will stick to sunbathing. Also, if you are a human seeing a dryad come to sunbath, do accept the fact they are going to be naked and do not make a big deal about. I mean, half of all dryads walk around without clothes pretty much every day! It's just how we do things! Anyways, needless to say, the beaches along the coast see quite a lot of visitors and tourists. If it is a warm sunny day, it is guaranteed! However, visitors may notice that there are some places where the tourists and even the locals don't go. Some beaches remain empty of any sunbathers or swimmers, despite their beautiful location. In many cases, these places are left alone for the wildlife, which I love! Plenty of species use the shoreline in their day-to-day lives, so we need to leave room for them! In some cases, though, these places aren't left alone voluntarily. The cases where locals flat up refuse to set foot on these shorelines because they value their own skin. Outsiders may see these empty beaches and figure they found a secret paradise, all for themselves! The only other creature upon these shores is just some bird, but there is no need to pay them any mind. Right? I mean, what's a bird going to do? Usually the following up thought to that question is "where did my teeth go?" Because it turns out those birds can do a whole lot...

The species I am referring to is the Pugiblis, a large flightless bird that strolls the coastlines of tropical climates. The sandy beaches, rocky shores, tide pools and nearby groves of palm trees are where they like to hang. The species can easily be identified by their brilliant crest of feathers, as well as the weird strutting they do across the shore. There is no mistaking one when you see it, as their silhouette is quite distinct, as they seem to carry themselves with a different energy then other birds. White plumage with bursts of brilliant crimson upon the head, shoulders, arms and tail. Upon their head is a bulbous basal knob, sitting atop a curved beak. Further down the body is where the real interesting stuff lies, as their wings have turned into something quite incredible! As I said, they are flightless coastal birds, which may give the impression that they gave away flight for swimming. Nope! The Pugiblis does not swim, in fact it isn't that big of a fan of getting wet! Much like dryads, they don't seem to like the seawater, and I respect that! Their feet are not webbed and their feathers are not designed to deal with an aquatic lifestyle. So instead of flippers, their wings have turned into something much more awkward looking. Most of their arms look pretty normal, with plumage and a drape of colorful feathers. But once you get to the part you would call a "hand" it becomes pretty bulbous and bare. It looks almost swollen, and the skin has hardened into thick scales. Hooked claws emerge from the mass, but they pale in comparison to the meaty knot that has replaced their wings. When the Pugiblis walks, they keep their wings folded up like all others birds, but those hands still stand out amongst it all. Such a strange structure! I wonder what it is for? Well, you can easily get your answer if you walk up and ask one! And the answer is: POW!

When a predator or intruder gets too close for comfort, the Pugiblis raises its crest of feathers and lets out some guttural sounding grunts. Not a very pretty song, but it does convey a message. Ignore their warning, and those wings come out and do their thing. When the bulbous hand is folded up like that, it is actually being held back by an impressive setup of bone and muscle. Essentially all the muscles once used for flight are now converted into storing energy within these mitts. When an attacker starts threatening them, the whole system is released and the hand swings forth with incredible force! Hardened scales and thickened bone has turned these wing hands into meaty clubs, and the muscles behind it all send it snapping forward to clobber foes. If you think the Pugiblis is some fragile songbird, you will get some sense knocked somewhere when this bird decks you. Their strength is nothing to sneeze at, as these same club wings are used to crack open the shells of fruits and mussels. If this thing can split a coconut in two, think of what will happen to your face when a punch connects! Plenty a predator have felt that impact, and have stumbled off with shattered jaws and less teeth then they started with.

As mentioned before, Pugiblis are omnivores, going after both fruit and flesh. Thick shelled nuts and fruits don't stand a chance against their blows, and same goes for clams and crustaceans. Their curved beak is used to slip into these cracked foodstuffs and extract the meat within. They are also used to probe the sand for any buried treats, as they will happily eat stuff they don't need to punch. The claws at the end of their hands are used to help position their hardened meals just so before letting out a powerful chop. They also are used for preening and cleaning themselves when they need to look good. This is an important thing for them, as Pugiblis woo the ladies and intimidate the guys by looking magnificent. The brighter the feathers, the healthier they are. Also, a pristine crest shows that they don't lose many fights, as those who get the sap beaten out of them don't tend to keep their style that good. So when you see a Pugiblis strutting down the beach with crest at full mast, just know you are dealing with the master of this shore, who is ready to throw down against any who challenge that title.

The reason why shorelines with Pugiblis colonies are left alone is because this species is highly territorial. They have their stretches of beach that they patrol, and any who walk onto their turf are immediately seen as challengers. So even if you just want to sunbathe, don't expect them to stay away when you lay your towel on the wrong spot. They will totally go after you unprovoked, because in their eyes you already made the first offense of intrusion. Attacks by Pugiblis are brief but brutal. The slowly strutting, croaking bird will approach at almost a cautious pace, but when its on its on. They suddenly dash forward with crazed energy and start swinging. Punches fly, legs flail and kick, and the beak gets to stabbing. In some cases, usually against larger targets, the Pugiblis isn't above spitting up a previous meal and launching it into the opponent's face. Those who scramble away from this attack do so with bruises, cuts, probably broken bones and some loose teeth. It is not a good place to be and not a pretty way to spend a vacation. And don't even think of fighting back, as that just makes them even angrier. Beating them won't even solve your problem, because if you somehow scare off or kill the attacking Pugiblis, another one will most likely come rushing in swinging. It turns out, if you succeed in defeating one Pugiblis, the others see you as the one who now owns this turf. Thus it means if they beat you, they get the land! Your brief victory will just mean more aggressive birds lining up for a shot at the champ!

Pugiblis aren't even friendly to their own kind, what with the territorial nature. Even more so when the breeding season kicks in. The big crested males with the prime beach spots get the ladies, and tempers flare when other guys get jealous. Challengers arrive and the brawls go down, with each fighter looking to beat the other into retreating. Thankfully, most fights last mere moments and some don't even occur at all. The feathers and strutting signify health and strength, and angry calls back and forth equate to a shouting match or trash talk. You'll see them square up and circle around one another, letting out grunts and croaks at their opponent. Some of the big birds put on enough of a show that the others run off before a single punch is thrown. When it is time to lay eggs, the females retreat more inland, using their claws to dig holes in the ground for a nest. They will sit upon these eggs and protect, from both predators and angry males. It turns out some male Pugiblis will smash eggs they know aren't theirs, to lessen competition for their young and to perhaps free up the female for another chance at breeding. Not sure why the mother would go with the guy who destroyed her nest, but different species play by different rules. Thankfully, the females are just as good at punching as the males, and can defend their eggs if a nasty vandal approaches.

It should be noted that not all Pugiblis have red feathers, as others have arisen with different colored plumage. It tends to vary by regions, with different places having slight or drastic changes in color. I have even seen some with blue feathers, and it is marvelous! However, Pugiblis with red feathers don't agree with my sentiment. Any bird with different colors to their crests are clearly outsiders, and thus should be driven away. Whenever the red and blue ones interact, it is always violent and filled with spitting, grunting and punching. These birds just do not get along, or just really love to fight.

Due to their aggressive nature, these birds are left well alone by the locals. The shorelines they live on are kept free from beach goers, or at least smart ones, as no one wants to mess with these angry avians. However, that doesn't mean they're not hunted! Pugiblis are indeed hunted for their meat and plumes, but such efforts must be done from a long range. Those who shoot these birds must be sure they're dead before going in to collect their kill, as an injured Pugiblis will be twice as dangerous. With their fighting prowess and proud nature, it should be no surprise this species' image is used a lot in crests, on signs and as mascots for fight clubs. Their colors and garbs show up a lot in said arenas, as fighters find kindred spirits within these birds. In more darker corners, however, Pugiblis fights are pretty popular. Birds are captured and thrown into rings with others of their kind, while the audience bets on who wins. While their brawls in nature end with a bruised loser, these battles are to the death. These type of fighting rings are illegal, but obviously that doesn't stop everyone. At least I can take a bit of satisfaction whenever I hear that one of these imprisoned birds got loose and beat their cruel master to death.

And before anyone asks: no, I haven't ever been hit by one. Not exactly a thing I want to experience. I have taken plenty of beatings during my time as a researcher, so I think I got that area well covered by now. I mean, what do you think happens every time I walk into Eucella's office with another stack of papers? Honestly, I would probably prefer fighting the bird! They seem more merciful! Har!

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

-----------------------------------------------------------

Look, you know if birds had fists they would punch people. Seagulls wouldn't wait five seconds to sucker punch you and run off with your fries.

Description

The beach is a pretty popular destination for those who visit the coast, at least from what I have seen. Sun, sand and surf as they as they say! Get a clear sky with the sun shining, and the ocean right there for all the swimming and shenanigans you want. At least if you are a human or other such fleshy creature. For us dryads? Not so much. Saltwater doesn't agree with us, but a bright sun and warm sand is pretty inviting! So if you ever see dryads show up on a popular beach, you can be sure they will be setting up shop way aways from the waves and will stick to sunbathing. Also, if you are a human seeing a dryad come to sunbath, do accept the fact they are going to be naked and do not make a big deal about. I mean, half of all dryads walk around without clothes pretty much every day! It's just how we do things! Anyways, needless to say, the beaches along the coast see quite a lot of visitors and tourists. If it is a warm sunny day, it is guaranteed! However, visitors may notice that there are some places where the tourists and even the locals don't go. Some beaches remain empty of any sunbathers or swimmers, despite their beautiful location. In many cases, these places are left alone for the wildlife, which I love! Plenty of species use the shoreline in their day-to-day lives, so we need to leave room for them! In some cases, though, these places aren't left alone voluntarily. The cases where locals flat up refuse to set foot on these shorelines because they value their own skin. Outsiders may see these empty beaches and figure they found a secret paradise, all for themselves! The only other creature upon these shores is just some bird, but there is no need to pay them any mind. Right? I mean, what's a bird going to do? Usually the following up thought to that question is "where did my teeth go?" Because it turns out those birds can do a whole lot...

The species I am referring to is the Pugiblis, a large flightless bird that strolls the coastlines of tropical climates. The sandy beaches, rocky shores, tide pools and nearby groves of palm trees are where they like to hang. The species can easily be identified by their brilliant crest of feathers, as well as the weird strutting they do across the shore. There is no mistaking one when you see it, as their silhouette is quite distinct, as they seem to carry themselves with a different energy then other birds. White plumage with bursts of brilliant crimson upon the head, shoulders, arms and tail. Upon their head is a bulbous basal knob, sitting atop a curved beak. Further down the body is where the real interesting stuff lies, as their wings have turned into something quite incredible! As I said, they are flightless coastal birds, which may give the impression that they gave away flight for swimming. Nope! The Pugiblis does not swim, in fact it isn't that big of a fan of getting wet! Much like dryads, they don't seem to like the seawater, and I respect that! Their feet are not webbed and their feathers are not designed to deal with an aquatic lifestyle. So instead of flippers, their wings have turned into something much more awkward looking. Most of their arms look pretty normal, with plumage and a drape of colorful feathers. But once you get to the part you would call a "hand" it becomes pretty bulbous and bare. It looks almost swollen, and the skin has hardened into thick scales. Hooked claws emerge from the mass, but they pale in comparison to the meaty knot that has replaced their wings. When the Pugiblis walks, they keep their wings folded up like all others birds, but those hands still stand out amongst it all. Such a strange structure! I wonder what it is for? Well, you can easily get your answer if you walk up and ask one! And the answer is: POW!

When a predator or intruder gets too close for comfort, the Pugiblis raises its crest of feathers and lets out some guttural sounding grunts. Not a very pretty song, but it does convey a message. Ignore their warning, and those wings come out and do their thing. When the bulbous hand is folded up like that, it is actually being held back by an impressive setup of bone and muscle. Essentially all the muscles once used for flight are now converted into storing energy within these mitts. When an attacker starts threatening them, the whole system is released and the hand swings forth with incredible force! Hardened scales and thickened bone has turned these wing hands into meaty clubs, and the muscles behind it all send it snapping forward to clobber foes. If you think the Pugiblis is some fragile songbird, you will get some sense knocked somewhere when this bird decks you. Their strength is nothing to sneeze at, as these same club wings are used to crack open the shells of fruits and mussels. If this thing can split a coconut in two, think of what will happen to your face when a punch connects! Plenty a predator have felt that impact, and have stumbled off with shattered jaws and less teeth then they started with.

As mentioned before, Pugiblis are omnivores, going after both fruit and flesh. Thick shelled nuts and fruits don't stand a chance against their blows, and same goes for clams and crustaceans. Their curved beak is used to slip into these cracked foodstuffs and extract the meat within. They are also used to probe the sand for any buried treats, as they will happily eat stuff they don't need to punch. The claws at the end of their hands are used to help position their hardened meals just so before letting out a powerful chop. They also are used for preening and cleaning themselves when they need to look good. This is an important thing for them, as Pugiblis woo the ladies and intimidate the guys by looking magnificent. The brighter the feathers, the healthier they are. Also, a pristine crest shows that they don't lose many fights, as those who get the sap beaten out of them don't tend to keep their style that good. So when you see a Pugiblis strutting down the beach with crest at full mast, just know you are dealing with the master of this shore, who is ready to throw down against any who challenge that title.

The reason why shorelines with Pugiblis colonies are left alone is because this species is highly territorial. They have their stretches of beach that they patrol, and any who walk onto their turf are immediately seen as challengers. So even if you just want to sunbathe, don't expect them to stay away when you lay your towel on the wrong spot. They will totally go after you unprovoked, because in their eyes you already made the first offense of intrusion. Attacks by Pugiblis are brief but brutal. The slowly strutting, croaking bird will approach at almost a cautious pace, but when its on its on. They suddenly dash forward with crazed energy and start swinging. Punches fly, legs flail and kick, and the beak gets to stabbing. In some cases, usually against larger targets, the Pugiblis isn't above spitting up a previous meal and launching it into the opponent's face. Those who scramble away from this attack do so with bruises, cuts, probably broken bones and some loose teeth. It is not a good place to be and not a pretty way to spend a vacation. And don't even think of fighting back, as that just makes them even angrier. Beating them won't even solve your problem, because if you somehow scare off or kill the attacking Pugiblis, another one will most likely come rushing in swinging. It turns out, if you succeed in defeating one Pugiblis, the others see you as the one who now owns this turf. Thus it means if they beat you, they get the land! Your brief victory will just mean more aggressive birds lining up for a shot at the champ!

Pugiblis aren't even friendly to their own kind, what with the territorial nature. Even more so when the breeding season kicks in. The big crested males with the prime beach spots get the ladies, and tempers flare when other guys get jealous. Challengers arrive and the brawls go down, with each fighter looking to beat the other into retreating. Thankfully, most fights last mere moments and some don't even occur at all. The feathers and strutting signify health and strength, and angry calls back and forth equate to a shouting match or trash talk. You'll see them square up and circle around one another, letting out grunts and croaks at their opponent. Some of the big birds put on enough of a show that the others run off before a single punch is thrown. When it is time to lay eggs, the females retreat more inland, using their claws to dig holes in the ground for a nest. They will sit upon these eggs and protect, from both predators and angry males. It turns out some male Pugiblis will smash eggs they know aren't theirs, to lessen competition for their young and to perhaps free up the female for another chance at breeding. Not sure why the mother would go with the guy who destroyed her nest, but different species play by different rules. Thankfully, the females are just as good at punching as the males, and can defend their eggs if a nasty vandal approaches.

It should be noted that not all Pugiblis have red feathers, as others have arisen with different colored plumage. It tends to vary by regions, with different places having slight or drastic changes in color. I have even seen some with blue feathers, and it is marvelous! However, Pugiblis with red feathers don't agree with my sentiment. Any bird with different colors to their crests are clearly outsiders, and thus should be driven away. Whenever the red and blue ones interact, it is always violent and filled with spitting, grunting and punching. These birds just do not get along, or just really love to fight.

Due to their aggressive nature, these birds are left well alone by the locals. The shorelines they live on are kept free from beach goers, or at least smart ones, as no one wants to mess with these angry avians. However, that doesn't mean they're not hunted! Pugiblis are indeed hunted for their meat and plumes, but such efforts must be done from a long range. Those who shoot these birds must be sure they're dead before going in to collect their kill, as an injured Pugiblis will be twice as dangerous. With their fighting prowess and proud nature, it should be no surprise this species' image is used a lot in crests, on signs and as mascots for fight clubs. Their colors and garbs show up a lot in said arenas, as fighters find kindred spirits within these birds. In more darker corners, however, Pugiblis fights are pretty popular. Birds are captured and thrown into rings with others of their kind, while the audience bets on who wins. While their brawls in nature end with a bruised loser, these battles are to the death. These type of fighting rings are illegal, but obviously that doesn't stop everyone. At least I can take a bit of satisfaction whenever I hear that one of these imprisoned birds got loose and beat their cruel master to death.

And before anyone asks: no, I haven't ever been hit by one. Not exactly a thing I want to experience. I have taken plenty of beatings during my time as a researcher, so I think I got that area well covered by now. I mean, what do you think happens every time I walk into Eucella's office with another stack of papers? Honestly, I would probably prefer fighting the bird! They seem more merciful! Har!

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

-----------------------------------------------------------

Look, you know if birds had fists they would punch people. Seagulls wouldn't wait five seconds to sucker punch you and run off with your fries.