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Sunday, July 7, 2019
Killdeer!
We had actually gone to the museum in hopes that the historic village would be open. Only open for the two summer months, we were two days early. But we were allowed to go out and wander the pathways through the village.
When the village is open during July and August, there are volunteers dressed in period clothing playing appropriate roles in every building.
I love cedar rail fences. These are new of course, but are made with original rails and in the original zig-zag pattern.
The first building you come to is a reconstructed log cabin, usually the first type of dwelling built by white settlers.
This one has a small log barn beside it.
The next pair of buildings represent the house and barn that were built later in the 1800's when prosperity allowed, a story-and-a-half farmhouse and a big bank barn. Both the house and barn are actual historic structures from nearby townships, moved here and restored.
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Then there was the one-room schoolhouse. I'm intrigued with this building because my father taught in a one-room school just a couple of miles away. This is a replica of a 1920's schoolhouse, modelled after S.S.#1 Derby Township.
The Bluewater Garage was modelled after several 1940's style rural automotive garages. It's the only one of these buildings that I'll be able to get into when we go back this summer. All the others have steps.
Then we heard the shrill whistle of the Killdeer and saw it sitting on the edge of the path just ahead.
We started paying attention when one bird started doing its 'broken wing display'.
The other was sitting on the ground nearby.
And then we saw it, a hollow in the gravel right at the edge of the path, with three small eggs, obviously a second brood for this summer. I fear the parents are going to be pretty stressed when visitors start arriving in two days!
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Wish the path near the Killdeer could be diverted,-N
ReplyDeleteAt first I couldn't see those eggs, they blend in so well. I suspect also that the parents will be distressed when the visitors start. Your pictures are wonderful of a place I'd love to visit. :-)
ReplyDeleteThat is a great village. Did you go to the one room schoolhouse your Dad taught at? I went to a one-room and then a couple of two-rooms up until Grade 6. Fond memories. there was a kildeer at Golden Pond RV Resort when we were there in June 2016 and her eggs were also right along the path. I worried for them. Hope they stay hidden.
ReplyDeleteMy sisters and I toured that village on one of our Ladyfests. Too bad about the steps to the entrances.
DeleteKilldeer eggs are really well camouflaged, but, as you say, the adults will be in a dither with a lot of visitors and may stay off the eggs until they become cold enough,or hot enough on a sunny day, that the embryos die.
ReplyDeleteThe barn with sliding doors, my Dad had them on the garage and the big barn for hay, and the other huge shed for the implements. Love the eggs, what a precarious life those chicks might have when they hatch.
ReplyDeleteKilldeers are very similar to our Ringed Plovers, which are notorious for nesting in crazy places and refusing to be deterred by activity around them, so maybe they'll be OK. Having worked with people who use wheelchairs for years my advice would be to phone ahead about access - ramps can sometimes magically appear if you ask. Also leaving negative access information on sites like TripAdvisor can improve access for future visitors.
ReplyDeleteHello, love the pretty Killdeer, great sighting of the eggs and nest. Enjoy your day and I wish you a happy new week!
ReplyDeletea cute lil gal. It isn't out of the ordinary to come across plover nests in the shale off our dry-inland trails, down here. Rather a treat.
ReplyDeleteYes, the birds won't like the extra company.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great village to visit.
ReplyDeleteThose killdeer are such cool birds. We have some living in the cow pasture across the street from us. I like to see them run, reminds me of a road runner. : )
I like those older historic villages and I too attended a one room school house for a few winter months one time in a little place called Oxdrift just west of Dryden Ontario. Yes it's quite the broken wing act those Killdeer put on alright.
ReplyDeleteIt never ceases to amaze me that Killdeers nest in so many places that pose problems for them, yet they seem to do well despite the constant interruptions.
ReplyDelete