Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/06/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]http://canid.com/killdeer/thumbs.html Once I realized we had a nesting pair of killdeer in our front yard, I started finding out what I could. They started sitting on the nest on May 28th. Average incubation period is 24 days, which would put hatching on June 21. That was pretty much spot on. Two of the eggs hatched on the afternoon of the 20th: http://canid.com/killdeer/newly_hatched.html Morning of the 21st: http://canid.com/killdeer/almost_out.html The other two hatched later that same morning. That afternoon, I got my first glimpse of one of the chicks out and about. I'm not happy with the quality of this one, but it's the *only* shot I have of one of these chicks outside the nest. http://canid.com/killdeer/we_have_a_runner.html Those chicks are fast! I didn't want to drive him further from the nest, so I didn't pursue him. Instead, I took a picture of his remaining siblings. http://canid.com/killdeer/three_siblings_ready_to_leave.html And then I went inside. I figured I'd give the parents time to coral the stray. 15 minutes later, the nest was empty. http://canid.com/killdeer/empty_nest_syndrome.html And there were 4 fast, furry chicks running about while the parents tried to get them to run mostly in the same direction. Less than 24 hours between hatching and running around. Even though I had read that the chicks stayed in the nest just long enough to dry out, the speed of the process amazed me. My babies are gone! Now I'm just back to enjoying Doug's pictures. And I can mow my front lawn again. :) -- Eric http://canid.com/