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Sad day at the farm

Category: Lavender | Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 12:19 am



Sad day here at Purple Ranch. I have been watching these eggs each time I go out to the field. They are Killdeer eggs. We see them all over the farm doing their broken wing act when you get close to their nest. This nest was made in an indention where we had rooted up a lavender plant that didn't make it through the rains of last year. So I have been keeping track of these eggs. This weekend when I went to check on them they were gone. No evidence of shells in the nest so I assume a snake or the coyotes that frequent the fields had a midnight snack. Every year we have these nests in our driveway. They lay them right there on the hard aggregate. My Dad told me yesterday that he walked down the drive last year and some young ones had hatched. When he came up on the nest all of them were dead. So he went to tell my Mom. They came out to look at the nest and those chicks were running around until they saw my parents then they played dead again. My Dad said they were laying all over the driveway. That could kind of tie in with that possum shot I saw earlier today. Until next time. Lavender Up!

PS. I will try to get a photo of an adult so you know what I am talking about.

Purple Ranch Hand


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Comments

 

eileen wrote on Wed Apr 16, 2008 12:38 am:


What a pity the eggs didn't get a chance to hatch PRH. They look very similar to plover eggs to me. I wonder if the birds are related in some way? Our plovers lay their eggs on single beaches or amongst pebbles where it's ver hard to spot them. The parent birds do the 'broken wing thing' too. I would love to see a photograph of the adult birds just to see how similar they may/or may not be to our plovers.




 

cajunbelle wrote on Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:36 am:


I am sorry about the eggs PRH. We had a pair of Killdeer at a church we went to and they laid their eggs in the gravel parking lot every year.




 

StarLiteFarms wrote on Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:57 am:


aww that is so sad. I know how ya feel. We have those kildeer birds all over. I just dont like the fact that they do tend to lay their eggs right in the driveway. And its hard to know where they actually have nests. Sometimes ill put branches near the nest to mark them for their safety. Had to really watch out last year in the front yard while mowing too. I crack up at the 'broken wing' act. It is so fun to watch.
Hope you get more birds and they hatch. (:




 

Droopy wrote on Wed Apr 16, 2008 7:29 am:


I'm so sorry for your eggs. The story about the chicks playing dead had me laughing. Birds are smart!




 

woodlandfey wrote on Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:11 pm:


What an interesting story! Thanks for sharing it. I am sorry about the eggs tho. The circle of life unfortunately.
The birds do sound funny!




 

SongofJoy57 wrote on Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:02 pm:


PRH:
I have never heard of killdeer birds . . . you certainly have my curiosity up regarding the broken wing act. I am sorry that the wolves or snakes made a dinner of them . . .





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