Adventures in Birding

I LOVE killdeer!!

These are the funniest little birds.

They show up at our house in the spring. .

With their funny long legs. .

their distinct coloring. .

and their promise that a change of season is on the way!!

Devin and Cami were taking a cruise in the golf cart about 3 weeks ago or so. .

and SAW these little eggs on the ground. .

When they were telling me about them, I knew IMMEDIATELY what they were talking about!

After some research, I learned that killdeer eggs take 21-28 days to hatch.

Every morning that I walked. .

I played a game of cat and mouse with the parents of the eggs.

I walk right by the little nest lined with tiny stones. .

And about 20 feet from that, the parent would run out of the tall grass. .

and start and stop the rest of the 50 yards to the highway where I turned.

I had always heard about the antic that they are famous for. .

but had never seen it myself. .

until recently.

Killdeer will feign a broken wing. .

to get the attention of anyone that has gotten too close to their nest. .

And "lure" you with their flapping and spastic movements. .

And sometimes their squawking.

This mama did the whole flapping the wing thing. .

But as I proceeded to move one step closer to see those little eggs. .

She hollered at me. .

And I gave it up so as not to stress her out.

When the kids and I got back from my mom's last Sunday. .

I wandered out to the nest (I had been checking it every day, since I knew the hatching would take place soon). .

And here is what I found. .

Four perfect looking, sleepy little killdeer.

They were still there Monday morning when I walked. .

But they have all gone since then. I imagine they are still around here. .

What an AWESOME thing to watch!

We were going to have baby blue birds too. .

This daddy was getting ready to feed the female, whom I saw when I put my eye up to the hole!!

The sparrows started hanging out around the nest though. .

And I am not sure that they didn't get in and ruin the eggs.

The bluebirds are still here. .

But they aren't around that nest box anymore. .

GRR!

The only other bird excitement. .

Is watching these girls and boys wander around through the yard.

Devin's chicken flock. .

continues to spend their days hunting bugs. .

and laying eggs!!

Not sure that he will be able to show any of the hens at the fair. .

Most of them have a feather issue on their backs. .

that apparently is not some "chicken thing" like I thought. .

but rather a ROOSTER induced thing!!

I understand the birds and the bees quite well in the human world. .

But am still figuring out the BIRD world!

Oh well. .

Live and learn, right??

Have a GREAT 4th of July weekend!!