But it’s not necessarily their life they’re running for. It’s this life:
If you approach an adult with fledglings it runs. But only a few feet. Then it stops to see if you’re following. That’s what it wants of course. It’s offering itself as bait to lead you away from its baby.
Meanwhile the chick hunkers down in the sand and tries to be invisible. It usually succeeds
All this makes sense when you realize this sweet little bird has a famous actor for a cousin: the Killdeer--well known for feigning a broken wing to lure stalkers from the nest.
It seems remarkable to me that this bird deliberately puts itself in harm’s way to help its baby survive. Instinct? I guess.
Though I’ve witnessed my wife doing somewhat the same thing. Putting herself in uncomfortable positions for the well being of the kids. Of course no predators were involved. Just the PTA. :)
By the way. Results are in on my poetry blog. They were positive. Nearly everyone was positive it was a mistake. I can take constructive criticism. : )
