Neighborhood Killdeer
Killdeer are exceedingly common throughout the US, and they're even regularly observed around bodies of water in our arid part of the state. Still, I haven't had the opportunity to observe them up close until a family took up residence around the stream and pond located in our new neighborhood.
I shot the following video this morning. It was unusually cold for this time of year – temps in the upper 30s – and the killdeer chicks were seeking warmth under mama's wings. The only problem is that there were too many of them and too little of her to go around. You'll also see a short clip of the "distraction behavior" killdeer use to draw predators away from their eggs or young.
I apologize for the shaky video, as I am too cheap to buy a camera with image stabilization, too unskilled to hold a zoomed-in shot steady, and too disorganized to remember to grab a tripod.
Dang, why didn't I think of that?
Wasn't the monster in Cloverfield a giant mutant killdeer?
Posted by: Eric at April 28, 2008 02:34 PMThat was a sweet view of nature. Mama taking care of her little ones. Beautiful scenery, by the way!
Posted by: Jen P at April 28, 2008 04:23 PMOh, I am completely charmed. I have enjoyed many hours looking for a killdeer nest---on open ground---but never found one. I guess the lesson for the little ones is to be the first one to come when Mama calls, not the last :)
Posted by: Deborah at April 28, 2008 04:47 PMJen, you guys need to come out and take a walk around the pond (soon to be "ponds" as they're pouring the sidewalk around the north one now). It's turning into a birdwatcher's dream.
Deborah, I didn't know if they even built nests, or if they just laid their eggs among the pebbles and counted on the natural camouflage to protect them.
I tried to ascertain a difference in the call that brought the young'uns in, but my ears aren't up to the task. The male (I assume) lurked around on the edges of the scene, only occasionally coming between me and the family. I wasn't sure if he was trying to lure me away, or if he really was just a coward (or uncaring)!
Posted by: Eric at April 28, 2008 05:00 PMBurr Williams would be proud!
I'm going to refer our science teacher at school to your blog just for this! She's a birdwatcher.
Posted by: Phyllis at April 28, 2008 10:04 PMYou're more right about Burr than you know. He asked me to put the YouTube link on the Sibley Nature Center website. ;-)
I wish I was a better videographer.
Posted by: Eric at April 28, 2008 10:07 PMI love killdeer. They're beautiful. There used to be a family at Hogan Park Golf Course.
Posted by: Janie at April 29, 2008 12:03 AMJanie, I'm still puzzled by the bird's name. I just don't hear "killdeer" in its call. Maybe ours have speech impediments. (Couldn't be my hearing, could it?)
I understand you were on the airplane with someone very close to me. ;-)
Posted by: Eric at April 29, 2008 08:07 AMWhen you said "killdeer" I really thought you were talking about a four legged creature. We have these birds nesting in our driveway, but I haven't seen so many babies before. Very cute! And that's a nice parkland around your home also.
Posted by: gwynne at April 29, 2008 08:33 AMAnd that's a nice parkland around your home also.
We'll reserve judgment on that until we see how the developer will deal with the bumper crop of tumbleweeds that's sprouting!
Posted by: Eric at April 29, 2008 09:09 AMWasn't the monster in Cloverfield a giant mutant killdeer?
I don't know as I haven't seen that movie. Ask Julie.
Posted by: Jim at April 29, 2008 01:47 PMI didn't see it either, the main reason* being precisely what you alluded to: the shaky camera action makes MLB terribly motion sick. It's bad enough to have to pay the high ticket prices, but so much worse when you're paying just to get sick.
*OK, that was actually the second reason. The main reason was that it didn't sound interesting.
Posted by: Eric at April 29, 2008 01:49 PMAbout the publisher
Random Abbye photos...
"Glove Box Stories" is Back!
Eel on a Wheel
Meteorological Musings
Random Thursday
Is stupidity the Net effect?
More Invaders
Back Yard Birds
Book Review: "The Year of Living Biblically"
Sometimes, you get lucky...
June Sunset
It's Official...
Google's new favicon rocks the design world
Give the Gift of Flame
The Incredible Shrinking Math Skills
The Neighborhood:
West Texas Blogs:
[Midland unless otherwise indicated]
Other Texas Blogs:
The Business:
The Church:
The World:
Now see, I thought you were just being hip with the handheld, shaky camera effect.
Posted by: Jim at April 28, 2008 02:31 PM