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KZN
Hey, /an/.

I was down by the neighborhood pool today and I found this little bird. She was behaving rather oddly, and when I came a bit closer she puffed out her feathers and chirped at me, then waddled away like her wing was broken or something. Naturally I came to see what was wrong with the bird, but as soon as I had started towards her she flew several yards away and chirped at me again; clearly there was nothing wrong with her wing.

It then occurred to me that she was defending a nest, and acting injured to lure me away. I looked where she'd been standing and surely enough, there were four speckled eggs nestled in the dirt.

I snapped a few pictures, so I will post them, but my main concern is this: The eggs are situated rather close to the edge of the pool and walkway, and I'm afraid some of the neighborhood kids may take advantage of this and try to mess with or destroy the nest and eggs. Either that or accidentally step on them; the eggs were camouflaged quite well.

I have a few questions. Does /an/ know what kind of bird this is? And is it wise to consider moving the eggs perhaps to a safer location? (There is a mulch bed close to where the nest was, and it's on the outside of the fence in a more remote location--much less likely to be stepped on or damaged.) Certainly I will not move the eggs unless/until I know whether it is a good idea or not, but I'm worried about the poor birds and I wouldn't want to see the nest destroyed.
>> KZN
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<--- With her feathers flared out.
>> KZN
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This is the best shot I got of her acting injured.
>> KZN
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The eggs.
>> KZN
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And another shot of the nest.
>> Anonymous
stick it in her pooper
>> Anonymous
>>254782
This isn't /b/.
>> Anonymous
Fry that bitch up.
>> Anonymous
My first instinct would be to not move the nest. I think that'd be a very bad idea... Is there anyone you can contact to cordon off the area around the nest?
>> Anonymous
I guess you could move the eggs for them to be safe, but then the mother might not find the eggs, or if she does, she might think it isn't hers. My best suggestion for it is well, ask someone who knows about birds, maybe the humane society will know.

As for the type of bird, the eggs look like quail eggs, unless there are other birds whose eggs look like quail eggs?
>> Anonymous
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killdeer
>> Anonymous
>>254823
funny story: I was once in the Burke Museum as a kid with a bunch of other kids listening to birdsongs, and the track for Killdeer came up. Then all of a sudden this toneless voice stated "KILLDEER", and for a horrible moment I thought that was the call of the Killdeer
>> Anonymous
That's a motherfucking Killdeer. And if you touch a bird's nest, they will not come back to it anymore. Leave it alone. If the eggs don't make it, they don't make it. Circle of life and all. Seriously, dude. Don't touch. They'll be better off.
>> KZN
>>254823
That looks very accurate, that's probably it. Thanks. I'll look up more about the birds.
>>254792
Not really, the manager of the home owner's association or whatever is a dick and only cares about people not fucking with his property and people making their lawns look good. He'd definitely have an objection to putting anything up like that.
>>254793
>>254833
If I use rubber gloves, perhaps my scent won't be left behind and the mother will return to the nest? I know it's not really my business, but I can't stop myself from wanting to help.
>> Anonymous
Isn't that "if you touch a bird's eggs/young your scent will be on it and they'll reject them" a whole lot of fucking bullshit?

OP: If you really want something done, I'd try to get in contact with a wildlife or bird rescue. They're not all that hard to find and could probably either send someone to do something with her, or at least give you advice as to what you should do.

Leaving her alone is probably going to be best, though. Even if she loses the eggs, she'll lay again.
>> Anonymous
>>254850
Interfering with the nest is not helping.
Killdeers have been around for a long time. Everything that you describe (ground nest, camouflaged eggs, feigning injury to distract predators) is exactly their survival strategy. They have much less need for other kinds of protection than other birds.
The chicks are precocial and will be walking around as soon as they hatch, and will be flying very soon after that.
http://www.birdwatching.com/stories/killdeer.html
I agree with anon above, if the chicks don't make it that's their problem. The killdeers will go off and maybe try for another brood elsewhere. Don't touch the nest!
>> Anonymous
Yeah, that is a Killdeer. I have seen a few and the whole acting wounded is a major clue. It is how it gets possible predators to miss the nest.

I heard the whole smell humans on the eggs is bullshit. Most birds have a poor sense of smell.
>> KZN
>>254853
Yeah, I listened to the call on the wikipedia page and it sounds exactly like it.
They look like really interesting birds.
>> Anonymous
can yop fence off the area?
>> Anonymous
its best not to do anything. the more you mess with the area the more likely that she wont be able to find it or will assume u ate them and move on.

the scent thing isnt true. just leave em be
>> Anonymous
Dude, Darwinism. If the bird is stupid enough to make a nest that gets stepped on, the stupidity doesn't get passed down. It's tough, and your concern is sweet, but that's the way life goes.
>> Anonymous
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Arn't they cute as babies?
>> Anonymous
A bird that pretends to have a broken wing? Wut?
>> Anonymous
>>255066
D'AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

I want to steal one.
>> Anonymous
I saw one of these things pulling the exact same stunt yesterday. I figured that it was feigning injury since I saw a turkey do it once. Quite a pretty bird I think.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
(Spotted in western PA)
>> KZN
>>255066
Indeed.

I've decided not to touch the nest, but I will check on it every day to see how it's doing.

Speaking of the babies, they are born like chickens and ducks, are they not? Are they legal/easy to raise? (Not necessarily going to take one, just asking.)
Also, if I were to leave food nearby for the parents, what would you suggest? Seed? Fruit?
>> Anonymous
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>> Anonymous
>>254772

You need to tell your landlord about this and have the person set up multiple strips of caution tape around the nest - maybe make a sign and nail it to a wooden peg that you can stick near the nest that says something about it being illegal to tamper with wildlife or some shit like that.

Sadly, I don't think that nest stands a chance if kids play around that area.
>> KZN
>>255110
see
>>254850

I would have done that if he actually cared enough. Unfortunately, he's an asshole and anything put up will be taken down because it "looks bad."
>> Anonymous
>>255066

awww little fuzzies :3
>> Anonymous
Aww I have these things come and have eggs in my front yard all the time. Its best to just leave them alone, and once the babies hatch trust me everything will be fine. The mom will more than likely take the babies and hide them in a different place, they use to do that all the time near my house. Dunno about the whole human smell thing, but I figure if you freak her out bad enough she might just leave the eggs and not come back.