c/birding · by Tempus_Fugit@lemmy.world · 101d

Golden hour Killdeer

Great Lakes region, USA. April 2026.

Every time I hear a killdeer I track it down to see if I can get the infamous riding shot. I thought it might happen here, but no. This was a group of three killdeer roaming this open field for food.

112 points · 14 comments · view on lemmy.world

14 Comments

batmaniam@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 100d (1 reply)

When I was a kid, my hometown was ~5-10 miles from one of the U.S. Great Lakes. I road my bike to the library one day, checked out some books, and set up outside in an old disused train station that had been converted into a sort of park. That parts relevant because of the piled up mound of rocks that made the track foundation meeting the grass.

As I read, I noticed a bird landed pretty close to me, I was thrilled to be watching them! But then I noticed it seemed to be limping, it's wing was broken. There was a vet not to far, so I went into my backpack for a sweatshirt, and figured I might be able to safely wrap him up, and take him to the vet, who probably knew the number of a wildlife rehabilitation center or something.

As I approached with my sweatshirt though, it took off! Must not have been that hurt after all... I kept reading. The bird showed up again, it must not have been able to fly to far! I tried again, again it took off... repeat for hours until eventually, having made very little progress on my book, I went home.

... It was around a decade later I learned about the "broken wing display". He was probably as confused as I was.

Tempus_Fugit@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 100d

Isn't it cool? What an interesting defense mechanism. They said, "screw building a nest that's defended from anything. We'll just fake like we're wounded to lure predators away from our nest."

Etterra@discuss.online · 3 pts · 101d (2 replies)

TIL that Kildeer is more than just a township in Illinois.

Tempus_Fugit@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 101d (1 reply)

I hope you have killdeer there. You'd know, they have a very distinct call. Example

Etterra@discuss.online · 1 pts · 99d

Oh yeah those I've heard those things. I don't know if there are any in the town of Killdeer though; I don't actually live there.

quinkin@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 100d (1 reply)

They are a type of Plover.

Tempus_Fugit@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 100d

Yup, a shorebird. One that's commonly found away from the shore too.

Resonosity@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 100d (2 replies)

Are these the same as sandpipers? As a fellow Great Lakes resident.