Killdeer

June 2008, Central New Hampshire (Game Zone J2)

Killdeer build their nests on the ground in the open. This makes them very succesptible to raiding by small mammals (weasel, fox, etc.) Their eggs are midway between robin and normal chicken eggs in size and are colored to perfectly blend with the ground (light dirt-colored brown with balck specks). Additionally, they protect their nest by leading "raiders" away. This is accomplished be feigning or pretending to be injured. In the video below, I move towards the nest and one of the pair rapidly twists a wings as if it is broken and flops on the ground. At the end of the video, I walk away then back towards the nest again which quickly draws out a parent again who flops once more on the ground. They will run in close to do this then run away, stopping to repeat the act to draw intruders away from the eggs. Maggie caught the action here on camera, sorry for the motion but they were moving quickly!

Killdeer putting on a show

7MB Flash Video of nest protecting behavior (note that Anton traps in

this area which has a heavy Red Fox and Coyote population. Last year 12

prized Chicken Hens were killed by 3 Red Fox at 5pm with folks

walking on paths etc. about 150 yards from this location.

In the lower center, 3 eggs are visible. There is a fourth just out of sight.

Mother Killdeer covering eggs with tail fan.

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