[Birdtalk] Killdeer nest at Deseret Ranch

[Mark Stackhouse]

Those hardy souls who have enjoyed birding Deseret Ranch with me this  
Spring have all seen the Killdeer nest near the ranch office. I'm  
happy to report that today the eggs have been hatching. By 2:30 pm,  
two of the eggs had hatched (one baby still wet - and one of the  
remaining eegs "pipped" with a beak protruding), and by 5 pm, three  
babies were out and dry. Still no signs of life from the fourth egg,  
but I haven't looked too closely.

Interestingly, the male, who hasn't been an obvious presence over the  
previous weeks, has suddenly appeared, and is all over the "nest  
protection gig," doing the broken-wing act and raising quite a  
commotion whenever anyone even looks like they're approaching the  
nest. Mom is sticking close to the nest, engaging in defensive  
behavior only at the last moment.

I have pictures I can send to anyone who's interested.

Good birding!

Mark Stackhouse