Baby Killdeer: All Knees and Elbows

As I walked the dogs we came on a spot in the field that was barren and flooded. Two killdeer were flying around and doing what killdeer do when there are babies or a nest nearby, so I stopped to watch and photograph (after getting the dogs to behave, meaning sit and stay by me). I saw these cute little guys running around trying to get into the wheat to hide and was lucky enough to get a few photos. They're a bit blurred, but the best I could get. You shoot quick with these little guys or miss your chance.

They remind me of the saying about gangly pre-teens - all knees and elbows - but they sure are quick little runners, and very quiet. If you see mom and dad and want to see the babies, don't look at the parents. Their goal is to lure you away from the babies.

Here is mom or dad (they look alike to me) watching and going away from the babies.

They will fly off aways and do a broken wing act - it must work on predators - it sure convinces my dogs! I used to have a lot of trouble keeping them under control near the killdeer, and we have a lot of them around our area. We always see them, early spring through late fall.

Even though I've been trying for several years to get photos of the broken wing behavior, these are my first decent photos. They usually get just a bit too far away and just a bit too deep into the grass to look good on camera.

They are also excellent at camoflage in their most comfortable habitat - barren ground with some pebbles and dry grasses. They just blend right in.

They have a bright red eye and when they are head-on the black and white bands stand out more. They have 2 chest bands. Another similar shorebird has one band - plover, maybe?

They do love water and are often found near streams and ponds, but they use large open fields to nest.

All in all, a beautiful and interesting bird. One of my local favorites.
I was going to do a gardening update, but nature called! Ah, maybe tomorrow...