The Killdeer - Quite a Bird

Killdeers Earl Plato

Think of local birds with unique mannerisms and high on the list would be the killdeer. When I picture this bird and its antics at luring would-be predators away from their vulnerable young the name Ken Benner comes to mind. Ken has had a long time love affair with killdeers. He sent me a write-up recently telling of Norma, his wife, and their preoccupation with this species.
“In the 1970’s my stone driveway became a nesting spot, They (the killdeers) didn’t know it was a bad choice.” Ken tried to accommodate them by placing an old Mercury car hubcap along with small gravel on the edge of the driveway. “... and a nest was formed.” This driveway nesting site was repeated over the years. The killdeer a shorebird? Of course. Ken pens ‘Plover’ family on the note. He’s right. The killdeer is probably our most familiar shorebird. Yet where do we usually see this bird? Open fields - golf courses - plowed fields - you know where. Their nests if you can call them that are very simple. Bob Chambers and I have viewed the eggs in Ken’s nest - three pale buff and spotted or speckled eggs. The Benner killdeers were in a slight depression in the gravel sparsely lined with grass. Year after year these fascinating birds return to the rural setting on Sunset Drive, Fort Erie.
“Kill-DEEE!” Kill-DEEE! Again and again repeated that it seems endlessly.
Approach the nest of eggs or of the newly hatched and you know the scenario. The adult feigns injury. The bird hobbles along with wings dragging as if badly wounded. The would be predator follows the parent killdeer until it is far away from its nest. The Killdeer then takes off and pronounces loudly “Kill-DEEE!” An amazing bird!
Picture this robin-sized bird. Brown above and white below with two black bands on its breast. Look at its beak with your bird glasses. What colour do you see?
Enjoy and protect our song birds this summer.