WHO was their real estate / rental agent!?? (Burd Tail)

They moved into a ruff neighborhood!

It all started a week ago;
just after I'd rounded up the Lawn Maintenance Crew -
(Myself, Odd Job (Orange *noisy* Diesel Traktur of Japanese Origins),
and Woody (OJ's tag-along-behind, grass munchin, assistant)
- for our weekly assult on The Lawn
(OK - the neighbors call it the Weed Patch).

We blazed a path towards the road - and immediately came
under Kamikaze-like ATTACK :eek: by Maw & Paw Killdeer! >>>

http://a1410.g.akamai.net/f/1410/163.../BD0188_1m.jpg

the Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)... (*link* to more Burd Info)

"Nesting ~ 4 pale buff eggs, spotted with blackish brown, in a shallow depression lined with grass on bare ground.
Discussion ~ This noisy plover is probably our best-known shorebird. Few golf courses or extensive vacant lots are without their breeding pair of Killdeers. If a predator approaches, a nesting Killdeer performs a conspicuous distraction display, dragging itself as if mortally wounded, often on one foot, its wings seemingly broken and its rusty tail fanned toward the intruder. This feigning of injury is effective in luring the predator away from the eggs or young, at which point the bird then "recovers" and flies off, calling loudly."

The Lawn Crew has dealt with their Burdy kin-folk for years -
often leaving unsightly "wild patches" in hay fields and
corners of the Estate/Ranch in defference to a staked-out "nesting site". :rolleyes:

And These Guys wanted the WHOLE front yard and half the pond!
Progress ? was slowed to a 3rd gear *crawl* -
(OJ & Woody normally dodge trees in 5th!) -
with me frantically looking left, right, and :eek: under, for the darn NEST!
Never spotted it; but Maw & Paw Burd continued to patrol the
entire front half of the Estate long after OJ & Woody
had retired to the garage.

ALL week long, as the FurKids and I pulled out of the garage for work,
and upon our return at night - we've been *Attacked* with
increasing dive-bombing ferocity and more dramatic
broken-wing / broken-leg / crash-landing displays!

------------------------------
Be *patient* ...

there's a LOT more to this Tail...
just let me copy it into the next window...

;)

ALL week long, as the FurKids and I pulled out of the garage for work,
and upon our return at night - we've been *Attacked* with increasing dive-bombing ferocity and
more dramatic broken-wing / broken-leg / crash-landing displays!

Friday was Lawn Maintenance / Weed Abatement Day, again.

The Kar was "met" at the foot of the driveway by :eek: MAD :mad: Momma Burd!
Wings outstretched, *shrieking* KEE! - KEE! - KEE! -
with FIRE in her eyes, she CHARGED at the car!

We stopped...
the two furry Co-Pilots went berserk!
YIPP! YAPP! *WATCH* da Burd, Dad!
I *SEE* the darn Burd! She's blockin my Driveway!
We backed up... *HONK* *HONK*
Another attempt to drive on...
Another *CHARGE* KEE! - KEE! - KEE!
YIPP! YAPP! *YeeeOwwwwllll* ~ Ya *squisshed* her, Dad!!
I did NOT (I hope)! (We backed up, again.)

OMG! She was acting like we HAD hit her ...
spinning in circles,
*shrieking*, dragging a wing,
hopping on one leg... GUD GRIEF!

We drove on the grass...
Maw Burd "recovered" well enough to chase us into the garage.

Cinder & Smokey trotted down the drive to "check da Burdz out"...
All I heard was SmokeMutt *shriek*...
and they Both dashed back UP the drive, tails tucked,
and desperately wanted INto the Howze!

Tyme to *try* to mow grass/weeds...
Odd Job *barked* to life; Woody began Hummmmin his blades...
we ventured down the yard beside the drive...

:eek: Under aerial *ATTACK* by da MADD Burd Squadron of Two!

Then suddenly there was only WUN!
Paw Burd was doing crash-landings and frantic broken-wing
displays in the middle of the front yard...
WHERE was Momma Burd!???
No feathers behind Woody - THAT's a gud sign!...
We went down to 2nd gear...
Grass was growing faster than Woody was chewin it up!

Half way down the driveway, Paw Burd *Attacked* from the left - I ducked right...
and OMG! - THERE She IS!

Momma Burd was huddled - wings fully outstreached -
motionless - in the CENTER of the gravel driveway!

We inched down to the road and paused...
Momma Burd was frozen in place;
Paw Burd alternated his crash-landing displays on
both sides of the drive...

Is THAT where they built their Burd Howze!???
Smack-dab-Center on my gravel DRIVEway!???
GUD GRIEF! WHAT were they Thinking!???

We made another pass back up toward the Big Howze -
Momma frozen in place in the drive;
Daddy Burd *crashing* & *spinning* & *shrieking* KEE! - KEE! - KEE! in the yard.

By the 4th pass away from the drive, Both of em were airborn again -
*attacking* from both sides...
We finished mowing the front yard; and moved over to the pond side...

------------------

still more to come... :rolleyes:

Back down to 2nd gear for the First Pass on the east side of
the drive - me again *scanning* the drive...
But WHAT was I *looking* for?
There'd only been random *attacks* for a while by either s/he Burd -
where was the Other Wun?

:eek: **Zooom**! The Wing'd Warrior was on the *attack* again!
OMG! There SHE is again!
Center of the drive - wings outstreached - motionless!
I "memorized" a distinctive gravel cluster.

OK... that MUST be the Honeymoon Suite...
GUD GRIEF!
Center of an ACTIVE Driveway,
and in the front yard of a TWO-DAWG Howze!
Sure hope they didn't pay too much for the Lot!

Three passes away from the driveway later;
both Maw & Paw Burd are airborn again -
*Buzzing* the Lawn Maintenance Crew whenever
we get within 50 yards of their Suite...

I paused to try to "find" my *distinctive gravel* marker...

OMG! THERE it IS! 4 Lil Camouflage/Spotted EGGS!!
That's a *NEST*????
A small depression in the gravel, exact Center of the drive,
with tufts of grass/weeds about a foot away...
so out-in-the-open - yet so hidden...
WOW!

Relieved - at least I know WHERE it is - OJ, Woody & I finished
our Lawn Chores in 5th gear and just *ignored* the
aerial acrobats when we ventured too close to their Driveway Condo.

Everyone seemed to calm down a bit after OJ stopped *snorting* and
blowing black smoke; he and Woody will remain "resting" in
the garage for another week...
WHAT to do about the Furry *WATCH* Dawgs is another matter... ??

And what about Protecting the Burd Condo!???
The Power Company Meter Reader drives in at 50mph -
and NEVER :mad: keeps all four wheels ON the drive -
he'll *squish* em for sure either coming IN or flying back OUT!

*BOING* An *IDEA* is born!

<carries two cinder blocks to the Condo site>
<EEK> Where IS the Condo!??
Back for the flashlight...
*flutter* *FLAP* *KEE! - KEE! - KEE!*

Sorrie, Mrs. Burd... just a lil Urban Renewal Project...
Onlee be a minnit here...

<*places* Cinder Block Barriers 25 feet north & south of Condo,
directly in Center of Driveway>

DONE!

<relaxing in front of the Boob Tube...>

======================

HANG ON!

We're *windin down... :p

:eek:
WADE a Minnit!...
Iffin I get a Fiur Kall inna middle of the nite...
I hardly EVER *wake up* till I'm half-way to the Station...
HOW am *I* gonna remember/see those darn Cinder Blocks at
Oh : Dark:Thirty inna mornin!???

<shoes back on>
<grabs two Saw Horses from basement>
<*stumbles* over south Cinder Block in the Dark>
*flutter* *FLAP* *KEE! - KEE! - KEE!*
Oh, *HUSH* Mrs. Burd...

We now have the Onlee Driveway in Towne with a
Two Cinder Block & Two Saw Horse Barricade
'tween the road and the Howze!

THAT otta *tweek* the Neighbors' Curiosity!

Later that nite...
DAWGz on their final *Outie for da nite*...
Musta taken a *jaunt down the drive* to
<Check da Burdz>...

YUPP!
<SmokeMutt> Another *shriek*...
followed by both Dawgs quite happy to be let IN!

And as I opened the door...
KEE! - KEE! - KEE! from the vicinity of the Burd Condo... :D

Maybe Maw & Paw Burd CAN take care of themselves and
those 4 lil Eggs!

;) :D

Whew! Lots of luck with your new neighbors.

Sheesh, I agree that you should have a talk with their real estate agent. Wowie!

Seems like a bad place to build a nest to me - but at leat they're good defenders, if not wise real-estate choosers!

I'm sitting here laughing so hard that tears are rolling down my cheecks! Hubby's just rolling his eyes and knows better than to ask "whats so funny" for fear that I'' share the humor with him! :rolleyes:

Good luck with the new family in your driveway. How long til the birdies hatch?

Killdeer are so cute.

There is a pair of them that nest in the park here every summer, a pair that nest in the baseball field, and a pair that nest in the triangle of dirt where three busy roads intersect. I have no idea why they always seem to pick such horrible spots to nest, but it seems to never fail. There's plenty of quieter spots in town ... especially compared to the infield of the county baseball field!

They seem to spend a lot of energy dive-bombing intruding second basemen and cars, and faking injury for every kid that comes to swing ... but they nonetheless continue to come back each year, so I assume some of their babies make it.

He he he he!!

Good ol' Phred - Dog and Cat Lover AND Bird Protector!! :D :D

Lynne

ROFL!!!!

What an exciting house you live in!!! Nothing like that ever happens here (except for the occasional cat-fight and terorist attack):rolleyes:

Oh Phred, you can tell a story! LOL! :D

I suppose it's not a good idea to put the eggs in a safer spot? Birds are known to not touch them, if others have. :(

The other evening we had 2 magpies yapping away right outside our window for over half an hour. I have never heard anything like it! A real serious argument it seemed. :eek: I have no idea what it was about, but I know they have a nest in one of the trees and I saw a smaller bird walking around on the pavement looking all bewildered. I hope the mom and dad came to some sort of an agreement! :)

I hope the eggs will hatch!

Dad took sum *snappies* of our Burd Sanctuary ~
inna CENTER of our Driveway... :rolleyes:
anna PROUD but *distressed* Parents >>>

BURD SANCTUARY at Phred's Ranch DRIVE??way >>>
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...1/f8603e61.jpg

Where's a kupla Traffik Kones when ya NEED em!?
-------------------------

Whut allua *fuss* is about...

Da 4 Lil Cameo EGGS inna Nest >>>
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...e/f8603e79.jpg

4 lil Killdeer - all *wrapped* for Delivery.
-----------------------------------------------

Maw & Paw Burd (PROUD Parents) >>
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...f/f8603e4f.jpg
------------------------------------------------

"Checkin da Howze an Kidz"...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...8/f8602df7.jpg
------------------------------------------------

**LOOK**
Maw or Paw doing their Dead Bird / Broken Wing "act" -
to distract the Predator (Dad)

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...c/f8602deb.jpg
---------------------------------------------

An *Aerial Attack* on Dad >>>
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...3/f8602db8.jpg

Maw & Paw Burd got *brave* as I walked toward the BigHouse -
this one Very SUDDENLY flew up and AT me :eek: from beside the pond!

Visit the Album here >>

Kildeer 2004 ~ the BURD Fambly Album :)

Oh DEER!

they sound like Feisty birds!! How silly of them to put their nests in such populated places. but then again, maybe it's smart, because then there's people like Phred that'll be there to protect them. ;)

Oh Phred - wonderful pics - although the birds weren't at the front of the queue when God handed out the brains!!

......................Nest? What nest? Let's just lay the eggs here on Phred's drive and he can look after the babies for us!!

He he he!! :D :D

Lynne

Fur da Burdz! :rolleyes:

Mornin Outiez...

HEY! Where you guyz goin?
Check da Burdz, Dad.
NOOOO! You're NOT! - Stay away frumma Burdz!
And iffin I hear em *squwalkin*...

Sheeze!
Dey start *squwalkin* so az we hit da frunt porch!
Smoke> Yeah, anna Daddy Burd *CHAZES* me!

Den we drive onna grass goin ta werk...

*WATCH* it Dad! Yur gonna dribe Ober her!
Am NOT! :eek: Where IS she!??
Rite in frunta da car, Dad!
Didja HIT her? Her wing's all busted up!
NO, we dint HIT her! She's *fakin it*! *HONK*
She's givin ya a purdy *Durtie Look*, Dad.

Home at nite...

*WATCH* da Burdz, Dad!
Thank you - I AM watchin da Burdz!

Latur, fur Bed Tyme Outies...
WHERE ya goin?
Check da Burdz???
<Durtie Look frum Dad>
OK, guess we're NOT gonna *Check da Burdz*...
Awwww, Dad! De we HAFTA wear dat stuff?
<Dad affixes da Big Klanger Bell on SmokeMutt;
Cinder getz da Dreaded *FLASHIN* Blinkie Lite>
*KLANG* *KLANG* & *Blinkity-Blink-Blink*

:mad:
NUTZ!
We sound & look like a Gypsy Caravan!
DUCK, Smoke! Burd on yur 6 a-klok - commin in low!
:eek: I'z gonna go pee inna back yard, Cin!

Gud Grief!
Anudder 3 weekz of dis! :rolleyes:

:D