A Killdeer Family Returns: A Tale of Resilience in Our Driveway

 

Last year's nesting Killdeer © Chris LeBoutillier

Last year (April,2024), our driveway became the unexpected home of a Killdeer family. These remarkable birds, known for their clever nesting strategies and distinctive calls, chose a patch of gravel near our house to lay their eggs. 

Against the odds, their four precious, precocial chicks hatched safely. With coyotes and hawks circling, I placed a protective cage over the nest, a small barrier to shield the vulnerable family. 

The chicks not only survived but eventually took flight, leaving us with the joy of having witnessed nature’s resilience firsthand.

This year's nesting during a hailstorm March12, 2025

Fast-forward to this year (March 12, 2025) and the Killdeer are back—not just one, but two pairs nesting close to their original spot. It reflects their confidence in this small part of our world. 

One pair has built their nest again, containing four speckled eggs. The other pair of Killdeer I have yet to locate their nest in a horse pasture.

 

Red-Tailed Hawk © Chris LeBoutillier

Cooper's Hawk © Chris LeBoutillier

Coyote on the hunt © Chris LeBoutillier

March 16, 2025, Update

However, the threats remain ever-present. Just yesterday, I spotted a Red-tailed Hawk, a Cooper’s Hawk, and today two coyotes patrolling the area, their sharp eyes fixed on the nest. 

Tree on the left where hawks perch, cage is on the right.

To safeguard these future fledglings, I placed a cage over the nest once again three days ago, creating a small sanctuary for the eggs to thrive.

Observing the Killdeer family gives us a true sense of nature's delicate balance. These birds encounter significant challenges, but their determination to nurture and protect their young remains strong. Their return feels like an honor for a unique opportunity to witness resilience and adaptability in action again.

Track the challenges and resilience of this pair of Killdeer through this blog post. 

March 18, 2025 Update:

She is doing a great job of keeping the eggs warm and napping. Occasionally, she ventures out to find food but always returns to the nest, never straying too far.

The bird protection cage, repurposed from a temporary dog area, has been effective thus far. It has successfully deterred coyotes and hawks. There are four exit points from the cage in case she needs to leave quickly. The chicks last year learned to navigate in and out of the cage without any difficulty, demonstrating their ability to explore while always knowing where to return.

One of our resident coyotes was making it rounds this morning, hunting for voles. These coyotes do an excellent job of keeping the rodent population in check within the wetlands. The wetlands area spans about twenty-seven acres, and the coyotes primarily stay within this region hunting. They are from the bloodline of the Little One from Dogwoods of Guemes area and have a beautiful and distinctive coloring pattern on their shoulders and backs.

Updates will be provided here as new challenges emerge.

Guemes Island, WA

© Chris LeBoutillier