NESTING SEASON 2015
Please credit all photographs: © FoCLB 2020
June 10, 2015
The remaining two chicks are getting bigger and bolder. They don't run and hide so readily now. They occasionally raise their wings which aren't big enough for flight yet.
Sad Day In June
Sometime after May ended, a dog got two of the Killdeer chicks. The dog jumped over the concrete T-rail near the nesting site and got the two chicks. The dog owner tried to retrieve the dog but the damage was already done. RIP little chicks.
May 27, 2015
Killdeer in front of sign alerting beach visitors to be mindful of the nesting area at Corcoran Lagoon Beach.
May 23, 2015
Noontime Chicks go everywhere on the beach!
May 20, 2015
10:30 am The killdeer family spent most of the morning in the middle of the beach, where these pictures were taken. I was worried they were going to stay there. This afternoon they were inside the cordoned, protected area, bedded down for the night.
May 19, 2015
Lagoon circumstances are different that the 2013 and 2014 nesting seasons. This year the inner lagoon is full and there are no exposed feeding and resting areas, so the Killdeer have chosen to stay where the feeding opportunities are...the outflow edges on the beach itself. Smart birds, adapting.
The hatchings made at least two trips outside the cordoned area today, down to the outflow to drink - near the bridge.
Tonight crows were diving on the cordon area but had no success.
The hatchings made at least two trips outside the cordoned area today, down to the outflow to drink - near the bridge.
Tonight crows were diving on the cordon area but had no success.
May 18, 2015
6:30 am We have four fledged Killdeer chicks! So well camouflaged that it took a while to find them. When they all awoke, the fourth one staggered like a drunk for a few seconds but appeared to be fine shortly afterward.
All four fledged Killdeer chicks seem to be doing okay this evening, a day after hatching. One appears weaker than the other three (at right in picture), but continues to catch up with the others.
May 17, 2015
First hatched Killdeer nestlings of the season appeared earlier this evening. They were still hiding under a parent, in this picture taken at 7:40 pm.
May 14, 2015
Early morning update on both nests. The first nest is safe with all four eggs being incubated by a Killdeer pair. The second nest - in front of the apartments and quite vulnerable - still has only one egg. However, the Killdeer pair of this nest are exhibiting mating behavior at the end of the lagoon outflow, so another egg may soon appear.
8:15 pm Sometime during the day, a second egg was laid in the vulnerable nest. Unfortunately, without protection, both eggs were consumed by crows or seagulls toward evening.
May 13, 2015
Another Killdeer nest has appeared at Corcoran Lagoon Beach. Unfortunately the birds have begun to lay their clutch of eggs in a very busy foot traffic area, right in front of the apartments and not within the protective cordoned area. One egg so far by early evening.
May 12, 2015
Killdeer pair take turns incubating the four eggs in the nest.
Here the female is on the nest, while the male waits for her to come off the nest. Its a family affair.
Here the female is on the nest, while the male waits for her to come off the nest. Its a family affair.
May 11, 2015
Swallows making use of nesting site protection cordon materials.
April 26, 2015
First successful Killdeer nest of the season. Four eggs.
April 9, 2015
10:45 am Mating at the nesting site. No nests or eggs from the March mating activity.
March 12, 2015
Settling in...a nicely camouflaged nesting depression.
March 6, 2015
The mated Killdeer pair at 9:00 am.
March 4, 2015
Vladimir and Alina consummated their courtship behavior this afternoon
at the shorebird nesting site of Corcoran Lagoon Beach.
at the shorebird nesting site of Corcoran Lagoon Beach.
Some of last season's Killdeer individuals, checking out their nesting area opportunities.