Off to Barbara for a haircut Saturday morning and found a bonus: a couple of killdeer browsing in the grass out front. We watched them through the window and speculated whether they have a nest nearby or were simply out shopping. One of the pair was splashing about in the wet grass with glee.
A fellow name of Jerry DeBoer posted three terrifc photos of a killdeer courtship. Once I saw his images, I became convinced that what Barbara and I saw was another mating dance. You can go look at his photos, which are better, but to see the neighbors you have to content yourselves with these:
The last time I saw killdeer they had a nest amid the stones on the beach. I found it because they were doing their “broken wing” dance to lead me away from it . . . which begs the question of whether predators are clever enough to figure that out, too. Anyway, that pair managed to hatch their brood of fluffballs on stilts, and it was very entertaining to watch the whole thing. I wish these the same luck.
Torch Lake Views 
Scott Thomas Photography
May 19, 2009
The broken wing dance works on predators who are more willing to follow something they think would be easy to catch. I have yet to get a good photo of a killdeer. Must put it on my “to photography” list. 🙂
Gerry
May 19, 2009
Wouldn’t you think the predators would catch on after awhile? When you get a good photo of a killdeer I want to know about it, because it’s sure to be a stunner.
centria
May 21, 2009
Killdeer courtship! We saw some killdeer along the river that day we were fishing for sucker. (at least that’s what I think they were…) This is interesting, Gerry.