When I visited Point Reyes National Seashore last week, I witnessed a little bit of drama as 2 Killdeer got involved in a territorial dispute over a foraging spot near a tidal pond.
I had seen the first Killdeer digging in the mud and then he flew over to another spot midway down the pond. So a second Killdeer decided to forage at the same place. The first bird, we’ll call him Boss, promptly flew back and chased the hapless other Killdeer, let’s call him Scaredy Bird, away.
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I missed photographing the initial confrontation it was so quick but I caught the chase. Without further ado Boss and Scaredy Bird:
Scaredy Bird is running from the Boss who clearly is out for blood or feathers.
The chase continues.
Scaredy Bird jumps up on the driftwood as Boss looks on.
Scaredy Bird is posed to take off as Boss gets closer.
Scaredy looks over to see Boss walking away.
Boss turns back and starts patrolling at the base of the driftwood as Scaredy Bird gets ready to flee.
Boss finally gives Scaredy Bird one last death stare before heading back to his foraging spot.
No feathers were lost in this spat. But Boss made his wishes clear — the mud flat is his! Scaredy Bird flew off shortly thereafter.
Boss went back to his foraging spot. Interestingly enough, he had no problem sharing his space with other bird species.
Boss continues to feed totally ignoring a Song Sparrow digging into the mud.
The heat wave in the Central Valley continues as we broke another record on Thursday with a high of 113. It’s supposed to start cooling with temps back in the mid-90s by Monday. Until then we will spend lots of time indoors keeping cool.
What’s up in your neck of the woods?