Today I was with my student naturalists when we stumbled upon a Killdeer
nest. I had seen Killdeer in the area in the last couple of weeks, behaving
in what I took to be a territorial manner. An adult would run across the
field, then stop and settle down into a depression (a decoy nest, I guess).
When I approached it would run to another low spot and settle down again.
I'd inspect the spot, find no eggs, then check the next one. I only fell for
it about three times!

Today, we had my scope along to check out the Red-tailed Hawk nest. The
young ones are growing out of that baby down and flexing their rapidly
developing wings. As we crossed the field, a Killdeer seemingly materialized
out of nowhere and started "deeer"-ing. This time though it pretty much
stayed in one spot as we approached it. Suddenly it turned and faced us and
spread its tail. It then started to extend its wings in sort of a
"muscle-flexing" pose. It continued vocalizing. We were within ten feet of
it. I realized the nest must be near so I directed the kids away from the
nest, as we started to walk away, I looked back and spotted a depression
under its tail containing at least three eggs! The kids were so excited!
First the growing baby Red-tails, now a nest of Killdeer eggs.

I am however, concerned about the choice of nest sites. While not an
official baseball field, the area is used frequently for practice sessions.
It was mowed less than a week ago (I noticed the eggs were clearly below the
top of the grass, so could have avoided destruction during mowing).

SHOULD I be concerned?
Michael B. Brown
Puyallup, Washington
H-253-841-4281
W-253-841-8733
C-253-208-9588
borealis at borealis.seanet.com
Nature Trail- http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us/elem/firgrove/brown/trail.htm
Home Page- http://www.seanet.com/~borealis/Resume.htm

"...I found myself suddenly neighbor to the birds; not by having imprisoned
one, but having caged myself near them."

-Thoreau
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(o!o)
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