When I went out to mow yesterday, I knew I’d be seeing two birds.  They are both nesting and they will react differently as one approaches their nests.

The first is the killdeer.

Killdeer defends nest

She builds her nest on the ground.

If you don’t know where to look you won’t find it.

Whenever I come near, she runs away making noise.  She wants to distract and lure me away from the nest.  Yesterday, she even a did a bit of the broken-wing ruse.

By contrast, the dove sits patiently and very still on her nest.

Keep low and stay quiet

I passed by within inches of the dove’s nest.  She did not even twitch as I went by.

Both birds guard their eggs, each by a different strategy.  Both will be effective.

Portland Update

Monday morning, work was completed on the steeple of First Congregational Church.  Less than two hours later, the tornado took it down.

Yesterday, they retrieved the bell and demolished the building.  How sad for those Congregationalists.  They will incorporate the bell as a symbol of their heritage as they rebuild.

I’ve not found details on the three other churches that were damaged.  It would be interesting to watch that steeple tower on First Baptist come down.  Interesting, but very, very sad.