dcr
Deceased Member
Registered: February 2004
Posts: 1,317
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This is a Killdeer, presumably named for its sometimes vociferous call (sounding something like kil-dee, kil-dee) during the mating season. It nests in very open, usually grassy areas, building its nest by simply scooping out a hollow in a gravelly spot. The chicks are called precocial because they are precocious - they emerge from the shell at a very mature state, with fully open eyes and, after a few minutes to dry off and get their sea-legs, able to leave the nest almost immediately to begin foraging for themselves. The parents show them by example how to feed on insects on the ground and employ an extreme 'broken-wing' stragegy to draw away any predators that may threaten them - the parent seems to develop a broken leg and wing or two and drags itself pitifully along the ground, (looking like an easy target)away from the chicks and suddenly recovers and flys away as soon as it has lured the threat away from the chicks and they are out of danger.
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Winnipesaukee Forum
