Rosemary Alberta Photographer - The Killdeer are Back!

We're pretty lucky where we live. Especially at this time when all the new creatures are being born and experiencing their brave new world.
Here at RyKie Images & Events, we've been fortunate to have some nesting killdeer frequent our area. Every year, new batches of chicks emerge from their well-camoflouged eggs and nest to start devouring the bug population.

So far, we've only had one nest discovered this year. If you've ever come close to a killdeer nesting site, you will be familiar with the defence mechanism the adults display. For the uninitiated, they pretend to have a broken wing; leading the predator away from the nest.

Usually, they lay eggs in groups of four, and the nests can be difficult to spot. Killdeer tend to build their nests in open fields - not the most convenient. They usually require a fair amount of caution - good eyes and tread lightly..

However, once hatched, these birds are tough. Right away, they begin hunting for mosquitoes to eat (thanks guys!), and are fairly self-sufficient. We love hearing their unique call and watching these puffballs on stilts throughout the summer!