{"id":38734,"date":"2016-04-24T05:47:39","date_gmt":"2016-04-24T11:47:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=38734"},"modified":"2025-05-24T15:50:55","modified_gmt":"2025-05-24T20:50:55","slug":"breeding-season-for-killdeer-at-bear-river-mbr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/04\/24\/breeding-season-for-killdeer-at-bear-river-mbr\/","title":{"rendered":"Breeding Season for Killdeer at Bear River MBR"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AdultAdult Killdeer in breeding season – Nikon D810, f9, 1\/1000, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

It is breeding season for Killdeer at Bear River MBR<\/span><\/a> and for all of Utah. Killdeer are noisy all year long but to my ears they seem even noisier during the breeding season whether they are in flight or on the ground. Their scientific name is Charadrius vociferus<\/i> and the second part of it is from the word vociferous:<\/p>\n

adjective
\n1. crying out noisily; clamorous.<\/p>\n

Killdeer are quite vociferous and it is easy to understand why they have that second part of their scientific name after listening to them call all morning!<\/p>\n

Listen to a sound clip<\/span><\/a> by Ted Floyd.<\/p>\n

\"KilldeerKilldeer plumage detail – Nikon D810, f9, 1\/1600, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I had the opportunity to take a series of close up images of one Killdeer two days ago while at the refuge and I thought would share a photo that shows the plumage details of the bird. I was a bit surprised by how worn many of the covert feathers were.<\/p>\n

\"RoadsideRoadside Killdeer – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Before I left the gate at the auto tour route I noticed that the staff at the refuge had put up a protective barrier in an area that contains lots of gravel and appears to be an overflow parking area where I have seen American Avocets and Killdeer nesting.\u00a0 My hat is off to the refuge staff for doing that and providing a safe area for the birds to nest in! I didn’t notice any birds on eggs in the protected section but it is probably just a matter of time before either the killdeer, stilts or avocets will be incubating in that area.<\/p>\n

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is a great place to observe and photograph shorebirds nesting and seeing their chicks but care needs to be taken not to step on their eggs or the tiny chicks that will soon be running around.<\/p>\n

I’m looking forward to seeing those little balls of fluff!<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a><\/span> to see more of my Killdeer photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n

Ethics on photographing nesting birds:<\/strong><\/p>\n