Help identifying a bird

[UDT89]

So there is a bird that has set up shop in the parking lot at work. She has a nest built right there in the dirt/gravel. She hasnt left the nest in about two weeks. At first we thought she was injured but then soon saw the two eggs shes protecting.

I wanted to identify the bird to see what it was, mostly for curiosity but also to see if its maybe endangered. Maybe the fact she should be taken care of by a professional b/c she seems very out of the ordinary for the area.

Below is a picture of the bird.

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/5827/img00035irg.jpg

 

[DrPizza]

some sort of a quail?

 

[UDT89]

it doesnt have the head thing like a quail

 

[UDT89]

got it

http://www.birdwatching.com/stories/killdeer.html

 

[Peelback79]

"In contrast, altricial bird babies, like robins and blue jays, are not cute. They are hideous, blind, bald, wrinkly-skinned little lizards that only a mother could love."

How dare she! Diane Porter, prepare for hate mail! You were so proud and vain in '97! It may have been 10 years ago, and you may have forgotten. But the internet never forgets......or forgives! *Dunt dunt DUNNNNNNNnnnnn*

 

[neit]

A couple of us ran into one of these while riding a trail. As we approached it did the "broken wing" deal and then charged me while poofing up it's feathers. I got a few pictures of it, here's one in charge mode:

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/1839/p1010414x.jpg

 

[UDT89]

i just think its so amazing that shes been by her nest for 2 weeks straight. i know in the wild it happens all the time, but it was nice to be reminded of the dedication some animals have

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: Peelback79

"In contrast, altricial bird babies, like robins and blue jays, are not cute. They are hideous, blind, bald, wrinkly-skinned little lizards that only a mother could love."

How dare she! Diane Porter, prepare for hate mail! You were so proud and vain in '97! It may have been 10 years ago, and you may have forgotten. But the internet never forgets......or forgives! *Dunt dunt DUNNNNNNNnnnnn*

lol

great find, OP. gonna keep track of the babies and post more pics here on AT?

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: UDT89
i just think its so amazing that shes been by her nest for 2 weeks straight. i know in the wild it happens all the time, but it was nice to be reminded of the dedication some animals have

Has she played the broken wing game with you yet? I always enjoy trying to find their nests when I run across a killdeer :^)

 

[Newbian]

Looks like a snack to go with some fresh eggs.

 

[UDT89]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: Peelback79

"In contrast, altricial bird babies, like robins and blue jays, are not cute. They are hideous, blind, bald, wrinkly-skinned little lizards that only a mother could love."

How dare she! Diane Porter, prepare for hate mail! You were so proud and vain in '97! It may have been 10 years ago, and you may have forgotten. But the internet never forgets......or forgives! *Dunt dunt DUNNNNNNNnnnnn*

lol

great find, OP. gonna keep track of the babies and post more pics here on AT?

i will keep track as best i can. I probably wont be at that location after a couple more weeks but I'll try.

and yes she did the broken wing thing. thats why we thought she was hurt but the she charged us chirping. scared the shit out of me and quite a few people.

 

[Barfo]

Do you like peckers, OP?

 

[UDT89]

Originally posted by: barfo
Do you like peckers, OP?

why? you need a new friend?

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: UDT89
got it

http://www.birdwatching.com/stories/killdeer.html

Listen to her call. That's where they got their name. Very pretty bird.
"kill-deeer!"

I think they are the ones that also feign being wounded to draw you away from the nest.
<---severely amateur bird watcher

 

[funkymatt]

yep, killdeer. their eggs are spotted and blend well with gravel.

 

[skyking]

They would nest right in the field I was cultivating with disastrous results. My brothers and I hated killing the babies or grinding up the eggs. The parents would feign a broken wing and try to lead us away from the nest, but the dang nest was so hard to spot.
This let to us standing on the seat of the tractor and looking for the nest, while we were cultivating! If we spotted it we would till right by it on each side and make a note of where it was. The untilled sliver of ground would mark it for the rest of us.