The Killdeer Decoy

Check out this brush pile. Looks like a pile of branches just waiting to be burned, right?

Wrong. it was the brush pile waiting to be burned but now it is the Killdeer nesting zone.

Click on the picture for a larger view.

Look closely and you can see the Killdeer.

See the eggs. How many do you see?

A closer look. They have cleverly hid the eggs next to rocks in the brush pile.

The Killdeer is using herself as a decoy to draw you away from the nest. See the "broken wing" ploy. She just stayed one foot in front of me to keep me interested.

I stopped and so she put on a bigger display for me. Chirped to get my interest.

Called out some more and got me about 25 feet away and then flew off. Each night when I walk the pasture, we do this ritual. In about a week, the eggs should hatch. We have a lot of Killdeers all over the farm with nests. You know it is spring when they abound in the evening.