Not a difficult subject.
Mar 17, 2021 16:49:29 #
These killdeer plovers were in a nearby parking lot. Fairly common, though not abundant. They enjoy places where the gravel meets the road most often. Just some happy snaps, but they are pretty birds if one takes some time to view them. Enjoy
Mar 17, 2021 16:54:38 #
Nice shots! Had a "nest" in my driveway, just eggs on bare gravel. The real show was the wounded bird act trying to lure me away from the eggs. If you can go back try approaching, and the fun begins. You'll likely get lots of high drama.
Mar 17, 2021 16:55:26 #
Mar 17, 2021 16:58:19 #
Mar 17, 2021 17:33:51 #
Bozsik wrote:
These killdeer plovers were in a nearby parking lot. Fairly common, though not abundant. They enjoy places where the gravel meets the road most often. Just some happy snaps, but they are pretty birds if one takes some time to view them. Enjoy
Wonderful images!
Love the nesting shots.
Were you using a ground pod, on your belly in the parking lot?
Mar 17, 2021 17:41:02 #
WDCash wrote:
Wonderful images!
Love the nesting shots.
Were you using a ground pod, on your belly in the parking lot?
Love the nesting shots.
Were you using a ground pod, on your belly in the parking lot?
Yes, I fabricated another of them. My 400 sits on one and the 150-600 on the other. Does make shooting at ground level fun.
Mar 17, 2021 17:44:06 #
quixdraw wrote:
Nice shots! Had a "nest" in my driveway, just eggs on bare gravel. The real show was the wounded bird act trying to lure me away from the eggs. If you can go back try approaching, and the fun begins. You'll likely get lots of high drama.
I do have images of that behavior in my files from other species as well, however I was trying to not disturb them when they are sitting on the nest. I would not feel well if they abandoned the nest from my annoying them for photos. Thanks for the tip, though.
Mar 17, 2021 17:44:29 #
Mar 17, 2021 17:54:53 #
Bozsik wrote:
I do have images of that behavior in my files from other species as well, however I was trying to not disturb them when they are sitting on the nest. I would not feel well if they abandoned the nest from my annoying them for photos. Thanks for the tip, though.
Maybe ours were unusually tough, but the driveway was used several times a day, carefully straddling the nest. I went down at least three times to photograph them. When the eggs hatched (I didn't see anything but shells) they ran off into the Sagebrush. The young are very mobile right after hatching. A few days after mine were gone there was a family of them at the nearest gas station, just wandering around.
Mar 17, 2021 18:01:21 #
Mar 17, 2021 18:13:05 #
Mar 17, 2021 18:27:07 #
Mar 17, 2021 21:03:49 #
quixdraw wrote:
Nice shots! Had a "nest" in my driveway, just eggs on bare gravel. The real show was the wounded bird act trying to lure me away from the eggs. If you can go back try approaching, and the fun begins. You'll likely get lots of high drama.
Back in the 80s I was working for a structural engineer and we were working on an existing building that had been a meat packing plant that was to be converted to a small retail plaza and bank.
I was doing a site visit with one of our young engineers and we went up to inspect the roof. The roof was ballasted meaning the roofing membrane was being held in place with small stones. While up there we came upon a kildeer who was pulling the "injured" act.
I immediately told the engineer to freeze, that the bird had laid eggs amongst the stones and was feigning injury to try and get us to go after her...and away from her eggs. We very carefully exited and left her to her eggs.
I had read about this behavior in my Audubon guide, but this was the first time I had witnessed it.
Mar 17, 2021 21:59:14 #
Very nice. They use to build nests near where I live but the roads are all paved now.
Mar 17, 2021 22:19:24 #
quixdraw wrote:
Maybe ours were unusually tough, but the driveway was used several times a day, carefully straddling the nest. I went down at least three times to photograph them. When the eggs hatched (I didn't see anything but shells) they ran off into the Sagebrush. The young are very mobile right after hatching. A few days after mine were gone there was a family of them at the nearest gas station, just wandering around.
Maybe they needed a fill-up before heading out. LOL And yes, they are very tolerant of people for the most part. Doves will do the same thing around their nests.
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