Killdeers and a Nest
For the past couple weeks, I’ve been watching a pair of Killdeer.
Killdeer
Killdeer
It took a few days before I walked into a specific area and suddenly had one of the Killdeers screaming at me, bobbing and running, then putting on their broken-wing display. This is the Killdeer’s defense distraction, to feign injury to lure a predator’s attention to them and away from their nest.
Killdeer’s ‘fake injury’ defense
Killdeer’s ‘fake injury’ defense
Killdeer feigning injury to draw my attention
Killdeer use a scrape on the ground for their nest, sometimes in gravel.
I scanned the gravel along the shed nearby.
Do you see the nest and eggs?
(dead center)
Killdeer Eggs
While one incubates…..
Killdeer incubating eggs
Killdeer incubating eggs
Killdeer incubating eggs
the mate stays nearby, foraging and guarding their territory.
Killdeer foraging
Killdeer in flight
Killdeer foraging
Killdeer
Killdeer eggs hatch in 22-28 days. I am hoping to see and share little ones before they vacate the nest after birth. They look like cotton balls on stilts!
Great captures of wildlife behavior in their natural environment and, as always, I learned something new! Looking forward to your images of the chicks!
Thank you, Steve!
You’ve just reminded me of our holiday last year, when we saw, what we call, a Ringed Plover with its chicks, on a beach in Northumberland. I presume this is the same (or a closely related) bird. As you say, like cotton balls on stilts!
https://alittlebitoutoffocus.com/2019/05/#jp-carousel-18045
I jumped to your photo link, you got an adorable chick Yes, very similar! Cotton balls on stilts! 🙂
Lovely set Donna, Really hope you can photograph the chicks.
Thank you, Brian, me too!
Good eye, Donna! I’ll look forward to seeing those fluff-balls! 🙂
Thank you, Eliza! 😊
Nice shots, you gave us a look at those pretty tail feathers. Gosh, they are so vulnerable to predators with the eggs in the open!
Thank you, Jane! They do have a beautiful tail when they spread it like that. They are indeed vulnerable. I’ve already chased half dozen crows that were harassing the Killdeer, I ran at them with my arms flailing while screaming. 😅 Those crows took off and I haven’t seen them since. 😂 The Killdeer stood there and just looked at me, then walked back to the nest to brood. I think I made a friend. 😊
I’m always amazed that these birds lay their eggs in gravel. Of course the eggs blend in but the gravel could be in a driveway or parking lot and easily smashed. I guess it works for them enough of the time. Thanks for sharing. These are such lovely birds, especially their wings and tail feathers in flight. I’m looking forward to seeing some babies on stilts!
It is quite amazing to me too being so vulnerable. You can bet I do worry about this little family, lol. No babies today! 🙂
Very nice series of images Donna! They are a fun bird to photograph!
Thank you, Reed! They do like to holler at you and take flight if you’re watching them, a fun birding challenge. 🙂
Beautifully captured shots, Donna!!
Thank you, Isabel!
Very nice that they’ll have family and preserve their species. You did a wonderful job, Donna. 🙂 👍
Thank you, HJ! 😊
Nice job spotting the eggs. Can’t wait to see the cotton balls on stilts. 😁
Thank you, Irene, it should be any day now 😊
The nest was very hard to see. I hope you are there for the hatching.
Thank you, Tom, I hope so too!
Beautiful captures Donna of a bird that looks so similar to our Black-fronted Dotteral. Interesting how they draw you away from the nest, birds are quite intelligent and able to think in ways we often marvel. People from the past (especially evolutionists) led us to falsely believe birds were stupid, but they are so wrong.
Thank you, Ashley! It never ceases to amaze me on the intelligence of birds, so many unique characteristics, some to just one species. Our Creator provided us such a wonderufl gift with birds and what they teach us. 😊
Great photos Donna! I so hope that you get to see the chicks (and we get to see the pictures)! The ones in the Everglades only stayed in the nest for a day and then they were off to the neighboring bushes. I know you’ll keep close tabs! Awaiting your upcoming cotton balls on stilts post…
Thank you, Carol! I’m keeping an eye out for walking cotton balls! 😊
Oh my. The eggs do blend in with the rocks.
They’re cute. The broken wing shots are neat.
I hope you do get baby shots.
Thank you, Vic! I really had to scan around the area to find the eggs myself. They do blend in well. I’m keeping an eye out for walking cotton balls!
😆
What a lovely looking bird. I hope the nest remains in tact and we get to see the little ones.
Thank you, Sue, me too!
Awesome documentation, Donna!
Thank you, Indira!
Oh what lovely moments! Killdeers do not reside here so it’s a real joy to see them through your photos 🙂 I do hope the chicks will hatch safely and reach adulthood.
Thank you, Takami! This bird is quite entertaining but very skittish and noisy when it thinks there is danger. The eggs should hatch any day now. 🙂
Great shots of the birds, nest and egg. I hope the eggs make it. I always find the eyes of these birds so fascinating and distinctive.
Thank you, yes those eyes are amazing! I just checked on the nest little bit ago and a parent is brooding. Any day now…. 🙂
Incredible camera captures! Locating the nest gifted your photographic patience.
Thank you! I always see birds and start paying attention if they are coming and going…..means something’s up! 🙂
What fun and good job spying the eggs.
I’m keeping an eye on them, no hatching yet….
Good that they are still there, that’s a start!
Wow! 😳
Spring time babies hopefully any day now….
That’s amazing. Their behavior to try to distract their prey is quite colorful! I’ve never seen a nest so bravo!
Thank you, Lisa! If you know their calls and hear their danger alerts, don’t forget to look around the gravel areas nearby, or sometimes a scrape of grass and some trash decor, you might get lucky! 🙂
I don’t know if they breed here. Guess I need to find out. I know we don’t have them year round in Jacksonville. 😊
Killdeer are year-round residents of the entire lower half of the United States, including Florida. When I left the Everglades end of March, there was a Killdeer gravel nest there with eggs, they hatched after we left, my friend got to photograph the little ones. 🙂 Home in Maryland, I’ve seen them in farm fields, miles from water. 😲
We just don’t see them in Jacksonville like that. They usually come in with migrating birds up here. Strange how that works. 😊