Photos by Donna

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!