[Leica] IMG: killdeer...easy come, easy go

[jmaddox01 at suddenlink.net (jack)]

Eric.
A very nice series indeed. The narration made the photos that much more 
interesting. Thanks for showing.
Jack


Eric wrote:
> http://canid.com/killdeer/thumbs.html
>
> Once I realized we had a nesting pair of killdeer in our front yard, I
> started finding out what I could.  They started sitting on the nest on May
> 28th.  Average incubation period is 24 days, which would put hatching on
> June 21.  That was pretty much spot on.  Two of the eggs hatched on the
> afternoon of the 20th:
>
> http://canid.com/killdeer/newly_hatched.html
>
> Morning of the 21st:
>
> http://canid.com/killdeer/almost_out.html
>
> The other two hatched later that same morning.
>
> That afternoon, I got my first glimpse of one of the chicks out and about.
> I'm not happy with the quality of this one, but it's the *only* shot I have
> of one of these chicks outside the nest.
>
> http://canid.com/killdeer/we_have_a_runner.html
>
> Those chicks are fast!  I didn't want to drive him further from the nest, 
> so
> I didn't pursue him.  Instead, I took a picture of his remaining siblings.
>
> http://canid.com/killdeer/three_siblings_ready_to_leave.html
>
> And then I went inside.  I figured I'd give the parents time to coral the
> stray.  15 minutes later, the nest was empty.
>
> http://canid.com/killdeer/empty_nest_syndrome.html
>
> And there were 4 fast, furry chicks running about while the parents tried 
> to
> get them to run mostly in the same direction.  Less than 24 hours between
> hatching and running around.  Even though I had read that the chicks stayed
> in the nest just long enough to dry out, the speed of the process amazed 
> me.
> My babies are gone!
>
> Now I'm just back to enjoying Doug's pictures.  And I can mow my front lawn
> again.  :)
>
>
>
> --
> Eric
> http://canid.com/
>
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