Killdeer
I finally got around to editing these photos of a Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) taken during the Noble Proctor BioBlitz Challenge last month. The bird appeared in the first photo like any other – no big deal. Oh no, this bird is “injured”! Not so much. This is a distraction display, feigning injury, in order to draw our group away from the area and protect a nest or young hatchlings. The bird makes it look like it has a broken wing and has lost the ability to fly, attempting to tempt mammals like us into running them down for a meal (before they fly away). If we did then...
Read MoreKilldeer Eggs
First there was one, then two, then three, and today there are four!!! Aren’t they beautiful?! Jane Johnson Communications & Public Programs Coordinator
Read MoreKilldeer Nest
Yesterday afternoon, my parents discovered these beautiful Killdeer eggs which has just been laid in their rocky nest. Every year, they look forward to Killdeer pairs finding a site to create their nests, and they take particular care in protecting the nesting sites as well. Killdeer are one of my favorite bird species because of the unique terrain they choose for nesting, as well as their exhibited behavior when protecting the nest from intruders and predators. They will display a “broken-wing act” to distract any potential threat away from the nest…it is quite interesting to watch! Jane...
Read MoreKilldeers Return
The Killdeer, one of the loudest and most visible late winter/early spring returning species, is moving north rapidly now. As you will likely hear soon enough…they’re back!
Read MoreSemipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)
Record shot of an uncommon species for Chautauqua County, the Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus). Other shorebirds present included Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Killdeer and Spotted Sandpiper. Now it’s time to eBird my sightings so they are not lost into the void forever and you should do the same!
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