Topic: Killdeer Video and Pics

[Jim]

Every year we have a couple of killdeer families that are born on our place here.  I think we have another topic with some pictures of nest.  While running the tractor through the corn patch yesterday I was able to get several shots of mom or pop killdeer sitting on the nest.  I actually got pretty close before she decided to do her dance and try to draw me away.







Here is the video:

[Triss]

Jim, that is so cool.  I do not think I have ever seen a killdeer before.  Sure does good at acting injured.

[Jim]

I thought it was so neat the first time I saw it.  Most of the time they get so far away it's hard to get a good pic but this one just slowly walked away trying to get me to follow.  I was sitting on the tractor and it startled her when I turned it off.  I think she would have let me ride right on by but I stopped.

[patches]

What great pictures, Jim!    Tanks for sharing them.    I've never seen a killdeer around here and don't know if we even have them.  I'm anxious to see the video, but sometimes videos take too long to load with dial-up, so I'll watch it tomorrow when I'm at school. 

[Jim]

I love taking pics of birds and today the momma killdeer wasn't going to be moved off the nest.  I walked up within 4 feet of her.  She was starting to get a little nervous and made that shrill cry once as I was getting these shots.

[Tonya]

How cool!! I am gonna watch the video in a bit. The pics are awesome.! Did you zoom or were you actually that close?

[Jim]

I zoomed...from 4 feet.  I don't think she was going to let me get too much closer.  The middle pic she was looking straight at me and I thought she was going to fly at me then.  She raised up a bit but still let me take one more step.

[Patty S]

Great movie clip, Jim!   I went to the library today & brought it up on a puter there, cuz neither of my machines can handle utube vids.  It was slow loading there though, even with their high-speed connection!

I think the birds are soooo cool when they do their decoy dance!   I saw our quail Mommy do that here once, when the cat was outside, but I didn't know at the time that I have a movie feature on my digital camera.  

[Jim]

I went down to the corn/potato patch today and while I was there decided to take a look at the killdeer nest.    I had to run back to the house and grab the camera.  They have hatched.  It's rare to see them in the nest because they are usually up and running around shortly after being born hatched.  Anyway here is the pic. 



4 babies!

[Patty S]

Absolutely AWESOME pic, Jim!   Next time you go out there, I'll bet you won't see hide beak nor hair feather of them!
 

[Jim]

Last year the little family hung around for a month or so.  It will be a few weeks before the babies can fly and they tend to stay around where they were hatched.  The momma still does her broken wing act when you get close and if you look real hard you can see the babies running for cover.  I think their first instinct is to sit perfectly still like they were doing yesterday.