Killdeer Chicks

Today, at summer camp with the grandparents, grandson Reed gets to experience Killdeer chicks hatching.

For the last month I've observed a pair of Killdeers nesting at our cabin property.

This morning, around 10:00AM, the first of the four chicks hatched.

By 11:00AM two more chicks had hatched.

The first hatched chick is on the right, next to an empty eggshell.

A few minutes later the first hatched chick escapes the nest.

Chicks #2 and #3 remain in the nest with the unhatched egg.

Chick #1 only traveled a short distance before it needed a rest.

Chick #1 returned to the nest after a rest.

Chick #1 rejoins chicks #2, #3 and the unhatched egg for a short stay.

While chick #1 exited the nest again, chicks #2 and #3 remained as chick #4, in the background, hatched.

By 6:30PM all 4 chicks were back in the nest.