A Master of Pretense

[Philadelphia Eagle]

The Kildeer is not what it seems. It looks like a shore wader with its long legs and sharp beak. It calls like a shore wader. But its not a shore wader. The Kildeer's natural habitat is inland, preferring open agricultural areas.

We are lucky enough to have a family visit us regularly and so are able to watch them closely.

Kildeers build their nests on the ground rather than in a tree or nesting box and if danger threatens the adult Kildeer will walk away from the nest pretending to have a broken wing. The idea of this is to divert attention away from the nest and its eggs or fledglings.

A friend who is having a new home built found the entire project brought to a standstill when a Kildeer nest was discovered to be in the path of a bulldozer!

The workmen cleared other areas and waited until the Kildeer chicks flew the nest.

The photo shows a Kildeer in its 'broken wing' mode.

Attached files

[Clint]

A Kildeer built its nest in a friend's gravel driveway. He was careful of it until the little ones left the nest.