A year ago, when I was first introduced to our resident Killdeer pair, I became enamored by them. The pair of them found their way to our front yard to make their nest and lay their eggs. I watched them everyday.
This spring, once again I've come across a Killdeer pair. Not in our front yard, but down on the ranch near the milking parlor, amongst the walnut orchard.
They lay their eggs in a nest they've built on the ground, usually in a gravel area. The amazing thing about this species is when they see a 'predator' coming in their direction, like me, the male or female, whom ever happens to be watching over the nest at the time, immediately run from the nest and fake a broken wing in hopes to draw the predator towards them and then fly away when he gets closer.
My first attempt in trying to find the nest of eggs was unsuccessful, but I knew I was close. Whomever was watching over the nest, mama or daddy, spotted me before I spotted her and ran in the opposite direction, and played the broken wing maneuver he had mastered.
