The Camouflaged Killdeer
Sorry for the delay in posting an entry. My Photoshop stopped working and I had to order a new one.
Do you see a bird in the first picture? Maybe not at first, but if you look long enough you will find it. It is standing on the sand. This bird is the Killdeer. It survives well in this environment because it is camouflaged. The Killdeer's feathers are the same colors as its habitat... brown, beige, and black. I heard its cry before I saw it. It took me a while to focus on the bird. The colors help hide the bird. Also, it can fly away very quickly. Its coloring and speed help it get away from predators.
Killdeer are shore birds, but they are unusual as they can live far inland, too. They are found usually within a short distance of water. In this case, the Killdeer is near the creek.
Killdeer make nests right on the ground! The nest has little protection. So how could Killdeer eggs be safe if they are directly on this pebbly surface? Correct! The eggs, like the bird, are camouflaged.
I found the remains of this Killdeer egg. It must have been eaten by a raccoon or opossum. There are probably three more eggs that will turn into chicks. Do you see how the egg matches the pebbly surface of the creek bed? Because of its coloring, the egg is difficult to see. This helps the Killdeer survive in this environment.
Listen for birds in your neighborhood. When you hear one, take an adult with you and get as close as you can to the bird. What color is it? Are its feathers pink?
No? What color are the feathers. Do the colors match its surroundings? If you get close to the bird, does it fly away quickly? How does this help the bird to survive?
Did you find this useful? If so, you can send a "tip" to my PAYPAL.COM account. My email address is kathomatho@yahoo.com. I will donate 10% of your tip to The Orange County Zoo.
Do you see a bird in the first picture? Maybe not at first, but if you look long enough you will find it. It is standing on the sand. This bird is the Killdeer. It survives well in this environment because it is camouflaged. The Killdeer's feathers are the same colors as its habitat... brown, beige, and black. I heard its cry before I saw it. It took me a while to focus on the bird. The colors help hide the bird. Also, it can fly away very quickly. Its coloring and speed help it get away from predators.
Killdeer are shore birds, but they are unusual as they can live far inland, too. They are found usually within a short distance of water. In this case, the Killdeer is near the creek.
Killdeer make nests right on the ground! The nest has little protection. So how could Killdeer eggs be safe if they are directly on this pebbly surface? Correct! The eggs, like the bird, are camouflaged.
I found the remains of this Killdeer egg. It must have been eaten by a raccoon or opossum. There are probably three more eggs that will turn into chicks. Do you see how the egg matches the pebbly surface of the creek bed? Because of its coloring, the egg is difficult to see. This helps the Killdeer survive in this environment.
Listen for birds in your neighborhood. When you hear one, take an adult with you and get as close as you can to the bird. What color is it? Are its feathers pink?
No? What color are the feathers. Do the colors match its surroundings? If you get close to the bird, does it fly away quickly? How does this help the bird to survive?
Did you find this useful? If so, you can send a "tip" to my PAYPAL.COM account. My email address is kathomatho@yahoo.com. I will donate 10% of your tip to The Orange County Zoo.
posted by Mother Nature at
10:31 AM
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