When I think of just hatched baby birds, I picture a nest full of featherless naked squirmers with their mouths open and eyes shut waiting for a worm to be deposited by Mom or Dad. Not so with Edith and her babies. Killdeers are incredible little critters you guys.
Edith made her nest in the driveway on May 19th. First, with 2 eggs… the following day there were 3, and the day after that… there were 4. Two of the babies hatched on June 13th, and 1 more hatched on June 14th. Early afternoon of the 14th, 2 of the babies were out and about with the 3rd one still in the nest. Sleeping. Shhhh!
I think what amazed me most about the not-yet-dry-feathered baby is the size of its feet!! Seriously. And all this time I’ve been thinking my feet are big. Other than having incandescent scales, these feet could almost pass for a hand with pointy witch-like fingernails or something. Better to poke your eye out with my dear.
The craziest thing ever? By late yesterday afternoon, 3 birds were running around the yard, and the 4th egg had totally disappeared. Edith and her mate are close, but any semblance of a nest is long gone.
Perry, fascinated by the whole Erwin Hatchery thing going on out here, looked online for bird birthing details and found that not only can baby killdeers walk out of the nest the second their feathers dry, but Edith may just be good for one more round yet this season. That’s right Pickles… get your butt on down the road! Those pesky neighbors are waitin’ on ya!
