At first glance it would appear that this bird is pretty easy to see. And if you are looking at the bird you are right, it is easy to see. But then maybe the photo isn’t about the bird.

The Killdeer was photographed at a summer horse camp for young girls ages 8-18. It was standing in a gravel area near the dormitory. A noisy busy place with girls coming and going and making giggling noises like girls of that age usually do. Along with that activity, this gravel area was also part of a parking lot, and a drop off and unloading area for the new arrivals.

Since the bird seemed not to care about all the comings and goings, I decided it would be a great photographic opportunity.

I got my camera, adjusted the lens and the focus, and zoomed in a bit. And that is when I discovered why the Killdeer was staying where it was and had not moved. Between its legs were it was protecting something.

So look close and you can see that between her legs are two eggs.

To say I was surprised at seeing them is an understatement. 

Certainly the eggs blend in with the rocks and that makes it hard for a predator to find. But you would think that the site chosen might have been a little more remote. Certainly there were other places in the area where gravel could be found. Areas where the traffic was less, the girls fewer, and certainly much quieter.  

For some reason this Killdeer decided that close to the buildings, the traffic, the girls, and all the activity was the safest place.

The girls put up a little barricade so that no one would accidentally drive over them, or even walk upon them, and that summer two more Killdeer entered the world.

 

This is another fun photo for the wall. I titled it HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT and because the bird is so easy to spot, I have yet had anyone notice the eggs. Even when I ask; “do you see what’s hiding?”, everyone says something like “Yes, the bird, but it isn’t that hard to spot.” 

When I point out the eggs, everyone is quite surprised. It makes a good conversation piece and makes us all realize that sometimes what is in plain sight, is obscuring something even more precious. A reminder to us all to look more carefully at our surroundings, and enjoy the hidden beauty.