They lay eggs in an empty nest only to later add other materials such as small pebbles Where killdeer put their nests. Some interesting facts about the Killdeer: (from allaboutbirds.org) Very often the Killdeer makes a shrill like, wailing kill-deer call; occurs most often in flight; Oldest recorded Killdeer was at least 10 years, 11 months old. Nest is a shallow depression scratched into the bare ground, typically 3-3.5 inches across. Unlike many birds, a killdeer builds its nest on the ground. At times, it nests on gravel roofs or on lawns. The eggs look so vulnerable, it's tempting to interfere, but it's better for the killdeer if we can simply let nature be. Although adult robins and killdeer are the same size, a killdeer's egg is twice as big as a robin's. The adults will usually fake being hurt & try to lure predators away from the nest. Killdeer fake injuries to protect their young. Killdeer are neat birds & very protective of their nest. Killdeer nest on open ground, often on gravel. The duplication may help to confuse predators. In order to protect the nest and young, a killdeer will build in an area resembling the buff-colored and spotted eggs, making graveled driveways and open dried fields prime locations for nest sites. Killdeer protecting nest Started 1 month ago | Discussions thread Forum: Parent: First: Previous: Next: Flat view: Jimfastcar • Regular Member • Posts: 296 Killdeer protecting nest 1 month ago 1 Interesting behavior, flapping wings, rolling in the sand, etc. Killdeer nests are simple scrapes often placed on slight rises in their open habitats. Unfortunately protecting a Killdeers nest is very difficult. Nest Description. Widespread, common, and conspicuous, the Killdeer calls its name as it flies over farmland and other open country. Killdeer on the Driveway . ... Killdeers are monogamous breeders and in fact, many individuals will return to the same nesting site as previous years to meet the same mate. It may have not been the cats that got the eggs. I … Killdeer may make several scrapes not far away from each other before choosing one to lay in. There's more nourishment built into the killdeer egg, to sustain the embryo for its longer time in the shell. Generally, the chicks of helpless altircial birds hatch in sturdy (Or, in one case, the end zone.) Like other members of the plover family, this species is often found at the water's edge, but it also lives in pastures and fields far from water. How to Help and How NOT to Help Ques tion: We have a killdeer nest in our gravel driveway, with 4 eggs on it. Killdeer nest on the ground.