Killdeer Habit

17 years ago

I noticed a couple of young boys chasing a Killdeer around at a local waterfront refuge that I like to go to ... So I shouted at them to "stop." I then went over and explained to them that it was probably a Momma and that there might be a nest nearby. I walked with the boys around a gravel area and found the nest .... hopefully the young men have a new appreciation for a little bit of nature. (Note: I went back the next day and Mom was quietly sitting on the nest.

All photos taken with a 500mm lens and an extender, so I was a long ways from her.

"Mom"

{{!gwi}}

Tail Fan

{{!gwi}}

Broken Wing "Act"

{{!gwi}}

The Nest

{{!gwi}}

The Next Day

{{!gwi}}

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Comments (7)

luc_quebec
17 years ago
You helped the bird, educated the boys and took those beautiful pictures.

Thanks a lot for sharing,

Luc
rachel_frome_ky
17 years ago
Oh, my-such gorgeous photos!

But you are perhaps too trusting of the boys..even if you won them over, they might show the nest to their friends and one of them come back later and steal or smash the eggs.
When I was little I once showed a hummingbird nest to a friend in Haiti because he begged me to, and returned the next day in time to see him shoot the male with a B-B gun.

I learned my lesson..TELL NO ONE and stay away from nesting sites..don't act like I see them. Animal predators are watching my behavior also for clues to find prey
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crcst
17 years ago
Oh boy,this is a tough one.I have all my bluebird boxes in my neighbors back yard and field because I don't have much open space.The box that the blues usually choose first every year is right behind my property and I can watch it pretty closely from my house and yard.There are new neighbors with young boys who like to play out in that area and it makes me very nervous.I have been torn whether to try to educate them as you did or just not draw attention to the boxes.Right now I have blues building a nest so I need to keep a close eye on things.It's a tough call.I think I will just wait and see,and not draw attention to what is going on out there.Hope I am doing the right thing...Jane
JoanMN
17 years ago
Beautiful pics, I hope they all hatch and survive!
JoanMN/FL
janie_may
17 years ago
The pictures are terrific! I think the babies are the cutest of any bird species I've ever seen. There was a little killdeer family a couple of miles from my home in a retail parking lot. I know that one baby was run over (accidentally, I'm sure) but I think the others survived. They often nest in the worst locations!

Hopefully the boys you spoke to will take heart and not bother them or tell anyone else. Fingers crossed.
wendy2shoes
17 years ago
There is an almost maniacal curiosity in kids to check out nests, see 'what's going on'. I know I had it when I was 8-10 years old. I will confess here that I took an egg from a robin's nest when I was 10, cracked it open to see what was inside.

Seeing that poor little embryo nearly broke my heart. It probably changed me into the person that I am now, carefully picking up spiders in a tissue to release outside, opening the kitchen window to let houseflies out.

Boys may be a bit harder to convince. My dear husband of 30+ years deeply regrets the carnage he inflicted with his 22. Squirrels, rabbits, cliff swallows,...he engaged in that destructive behaviour for two years, until he threw his weapon into Lake Ontario, vowing to never harm another creature intentionally (at the age of 11).

I don't know. I think even if you try to educate the kids, there is still a primal instinct going on. Don't let them know where the nests are.
bhowdy
Original Author
17 years ago
Thought that a follow-up might be welcomed.
I checked on the Killdeer Mom this afternoon. All was well, she is still sitting on her nest. I will keep checking on her.

Killdeer Habit

Comments (7)

luc_quebec

rachel_frome_ky

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Killdeer Habit

Comments (7)

luc_quebec

rachel_frome_ky

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crcst

JoanMN

janie_may

wendy2shoes

bhowdyOriginal Author

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