Amazing Killdeer

Something in the natural world has astonished me this spring: the amazing Killdeer.  It's a bird in the Plover family, technically a shorebird, but often seen much more inland. Their nests are often shallow depressions in the ground, the eggs are speckled with dark spots for camouflage. The chicks are born looking like tiny miniatures of their parents, and begin running around and looking for food very soon after hatching. Their name comes form their call which sounds like: "Kill deer! Kill deer!"
They migrate for thousands of miles. 
They are very protective nest defenders, warding off suspected predators by flapping their wings to mimic being injured, to distract and drive away a perceived enemy. 
I observed a pair of Killdeer at the park where I walk my dog each morning.  I saw the "injured wing" deception many times before realizing there was a nest that mama Killdeer was patiently sitting on..
Writing prompt: Observe a plant or animal in nature over a period of two weeks or longer. What did you learn?
Writing prompt: What surprised you the most? 
Today I can give from my heart the gift of understanding more of the world around me.
Today I am grateful for witnessing this little family miracle. 
Below: can you spot the Killdeers in the picture on the right?
On the left: the tiny babies were starting to run around so I wrote in chalk to let people know to watch out for them, hopefully to help keep them safe while they are so tiny.  

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