A few weeks ago I discovered a Killdeer Plover nest along the route I walk in my neighborhood. Each day I would walk past and the parents of the eggs would run out to meet me and try to distract me away from the nest. They seemed extra anxious this week and I guess it’s because the eggs were hatching.
Over the course of four or five days the eggs kept disappearing. Finally, one morning I went past and there were only two eggs left. They were disappearing so quickly I assumed they were being eaten by something. This made sense because the nest was on the ground a few inches from the sidewalk. A dog or any other animal could have had a quick bite to eat on their way by.
I took a second walk that day and this time there was only one egg left! I came closer and noticed a little chick where one of the eggs had been that morning. The adult birds were very upset that I was taking such an interest in their family. They were squaking their heads off and running at me like they wanted to peck my face off.
I went back home to grab my camera. When I got there I researched plover hatching and discovered they hatch and walk away from the nest on the same day. I hustled back there, took a few photos and went on with my day. Sure enough, later in the afternoon I went by again and the chick was gone. Today all the eggs were gone.
30 Days of Photos – Day 15
