The Daily Bucket is a place to catch your casual observations of the natural world and turn them into a valuable resource. Whether it's the first flowers of spring or that odd bug in your basement, don't be afraid to toss your thoughts into the bucket. Check here for a more complete description.
So It's been a while since I've posted or commented in here; work has kept me pretty busy as of late. I will be out of the country and likely away from the Series of Tubes for a few days later this week, so I thought I'd share Monday's backyard encounter.**
Now, this observation of nature does not come from my personal backyard. However, I did encounter a lady killdeer in the yard behind the building in which I work this morning, as below.
![IMG_0997](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5301/5804658910_89f509deaa.jpg)
![](http://www.flickr.com/photos/60381400@N00/5804658910/)
This mama was apparently guarding her new nest.
Now, if you've never encountered a killdeer and you live in a shore environment, or other waystop on their migratory route north or south, you've likely heard their warning call, or something similar as they are a member of the plover family. It's pretty distinctive and does make you take notice: I was just ambling my way down the hill from our rear parking lot, looking down and not paying much attention, when I heard this warning call when about five-feet away from the young lady in question. Killdeer, if you don't know, often employ a "broken wing" defense, in which they fake a broken limb to draw predators away form their nest. The mama killdeer did this for me when I came upon her, and I wish I had a photo of it. Anyway, killdeer, like several bird species, tend to try to distract those they see as intruding upon their nest by making a ruckus away from their nest to disguise the true location of the nest. I still couldn't figure out where this nest was, and I'm pretty sure she wasn't sitting right on top of it.
![IMG_0998](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2585/5804100287_7370c7963e.jpg)
![](http://www.flickr.com/photos/60381400@N00/5804100287/")
Mama killdeer staring menacingly.
Anyway, what are you seeing around your backyard today?
**I am not an ornithologist, nor even a bird watcher. I merely like to watch nature at work.