Return of the Driveway Killdeer Nesting 2026

 

Return of the Driveway Killdeer Nesting 2026

Killdeer Female

They’re back—and right on schedule. For the third year in a row, our driveway has become a full-fledged Killdeer nursery. It feels like a genuine vote of confidence from the wild, and we’re thrilled to witness the next chapter in this little saga. The pair has grown increasingly comfortable with my presence; she now stays on the nest when I walk past. But if a bird of prey circles overhead, she doesn’t hesitate to slip off and take precautions.

A New Beginning: Four Speckled Treasures

Killdeer Eggs

Just over a week ago, the resident pair settled in and laid four beautifully speckled eggs.
To give them the best chance at success, I have already placed the protective cage over the nest. This setup has been a lifesaver in past seasons, allowing the parents to slip easily through the mesh while keeping larger predators at a respectable distance. When I set the cage over the nest, she stepped off the eggs and watched quietly from a short distance, just waiting for her chance to return. The moment I finished staking everything down, she slipped right back onto the nest without hesitation. 🙂

Killdeer On Eggs

Early Season Challenges

The neighborhood wildlife has wasted no time taking an interest. In the first week alone, we had a few tense moments:

• The Coyote: A familiar local wandered by, casually “checking the perimeter” near the driveway.
• The Hawk: A raptor has been circling regularly, even perching in a nearby tree to watch the nest with laser focus.
• The Buzzard: For the first time, this bird descended toward the Killdeer mother, who was exhibiting her “broken-wing display.”

So far, the cage is doing exactly what it is meant to do, providing that crucial buffer during the vulnerable incubation period.

Nature’s Greatest Actor: The Broken-Wing Display

Killdeer "Broken-wing Display"

If you wander too close to a Killdeer nest, you might witness to one of the most iconic performances in bird behavior: the broken-wing display.

When a Killdeer senses danger—whether it is a human, a dog, or a predator, it does not flee. Instead, it becomes an actor worthy of an award, pretending to be injured to lure the threat away from the eggs. The routine is unmistakable:

• Exhibiting wing movement suggests an injury.
• The bird fans its tail and emits a distressed call described as a "kill-deer" or "kee-dee" call, frequently accompanied by a "sharp dee" alarm or a "nervous, bubbling trill". 
• Staggering away from the nest, then making a sudden recovery after the threat has passed.

It is a selfless, high-stakes tactic that shows just how fiercely these birds protect their future brood.

Stay Tuned

The eggs are about a week old now, which means we are three weeks away from (hopefully) seeing those fuzzies, fast-moving, fully precocial chicks hit the ground running. The countdown begins. 

Note: For comparison, last year the precocial chicks made their debut on or about April 11, 2025, and all four from that nesting spot survived. It’s been a joy to see the four Killdeer return together for the occasional visit.

 

© Chris LeBoutillier

“Photographs are silent; one’s thoughts give them life.” ™ -Chris LeBoutillier