Intriguing Killdeer
I have always wanted to see a Killdeer because in the bird book they look so cute. But they had always been elusive, until Saturday. As we pulled up to a dead end road in Wausau, near the interstate, believe it or not, we were greeted by this neat surprise. I took this shot right out the window of the car, he/she (males and females look the same) paused nicely didn’t he. I didn’t crop it at all, btw.
Cute little fellow, isn’t he? The way he was flopping around I thought he was hurt. But in that next shot he looks like he’s asking me if I’m following and of course I obliged him.
After I got home and looked him up in the Birds of Wisconsin Field Guide, I found that the way he was acting was not an indication of him being hurt. Nope, he, or she, act that way to draw intruders away. They build their nests on the ground, often in gravel, so their broken wing impression is a type of protection of the nest. 
I also read that their babies look like yellow cotton balls on stilts. Maybe I should go in search of a yellow cotton ball. . . .
That indeed is an awesome and pretty birdie!
I have never seen a killdeer....thanks! I've heard some birds do that to
protect their babies. Isn't that sweet?!!
Great photos. I've only seen one before and it was through a scope and
across a lake.
It has been my experience with Killdeers that they are more likely to let a
car (or riding lawn mower) approach them than someone on foot. We had one
trying to nest in our yard once and when I rode by while mowing, it would
just stand there - but get off and try to approach it freaked out.
I’ve seen killdeer in the wild but never gotten close enough to photograph
them. These are amazing shots and informative information! Today I've
shared things I've learned in the 3rd session of my beginning Photoshop
Elements class ... at <a href="http://sacredruminations.blogspot.com/200
8/05/belatedly-bybs-and-almost-wordless.html">SacredRuminations</a>
; and <a href="http://smallreflections.blogspot.com/2008/05/almost-wordl
ess-wednesday-photo-fun.html">Small Reflections</a> ... so I hope
you'll drop by to see.
Hugs and blessings,
This series of photos is wonderful. I've never seen a Killdeer, now I have
vicarioulsy. Hope you get some shots of those yellow cotton balls on
stilts.
We have lots of killdeer but I have not seen their young. Maybe this year?
Oh, saw 2 beautiful Redtail Hawks this afternoon. Didn't have my
camera...ahhh.
Great bird pics!
this is beautiful... i would defintely make that stop, too, to take a shot
with my camera... you're lucky to have captured them in photo...
Oh, Lisa. He's so cute. And, I love the distract to get away from the
nest instinct.
A yellow cotton ball on stilts - now that would be something to see! After
this post I'm convinced that the birds in your area are much more polite
than Florida birds. We get no posing or pausing - they just swoop down,
steal your chips and fly off - all before a picture can be taken LOL
Congratulations on getting to photograph something that you've been wanting
to. What a way to stumble across it!
He's a very good looking bird. That would be something to see....Little
yellow cottonballs on stilts. Cute.
What a beautiful bird ! I have never seen one !
These were very common in Oklahoma. That's where I became an actual
bird-watcher. I haven't seen one in a long time. Thanks for the reminder
that they are out there!
Just the other day I saw 3 little baby killdeer in the yard. They looked
like little fizzy versions of their mom, who was frantically playing
wounded trying to coax me away from the babies.
Do you remember my post last year with the two teeny babies?
I just love these birds. They would nest on the rocks in our garden when
I was small.
Dad would be careful to till around their nest if he found it.
Amazing photos. I have learnt so much about birds coming to your site. And
seen so many birds I would not otherwise see.