July 3, 2026

I am known as a Killdeer

I like to hangout ion sandbars or mudflats

But you'll also see me in lawns or driveways

- Pretty much anywhere there's water or grass.

Location: Location: Curtice, OH

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Killdeer/lifehistory

Photo and text © 2026 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

April 24, 2026

I am known as a Killdeer

I eat invertebrates such as crayfish and snails

I also follow plows

To see what they arouse

If it's larvae, they won't live to tell the tale!

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Killdeer/lifehistory

Photo and text © 2026 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

February 4, 2025

I am a Long-billed Dowitcher

Hanging out with my friend the Killdeer

I have Herbst corpuscles on the tip of my bill

Which help me to find prey hidden here.

Very special thanks to today's guest photographer, Jessica Sodano.

Location: Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Long-billed_Dowitcher/overview

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/02/990211072751.htm (although this article talks about a Sandpiper, the principles are the same)

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

April 19, 2024

I am known as a Killdeer

I nest on the ground in a scrape

I sometimes lose eggs

To clumsy horse legs

That step on my nest - it's an honest mistake.

Location: Orlando Wetlands

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Killdeer/overview

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 4, 2024

I am a bird known as a Killdeer

Naturalists used to call me "Noisy Plover"

My call sounds like "kill-deer" but I'm in no way responsible

For yesterday's post, a car ran the deer over.

Location: Goodwin WMA, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Killdeer/overview

If you would like to get this blog in your email every morning, go to https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/2022/11/get-dee-at-8-am-by-e-mail.html for instructions. Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

June 22, 2023

I am known as a Killdeer

Contrary to my name, I go for much smaller prey

Such as grasshoppers, beetles and other insects - 

My name comes from what I frequently say.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Killdeer/sounds

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

February 12, 2021

I am known as a Killdeer

I look a little bit like a Turnstone

Although today I am in the water

It's low vegetation where I feel more at home. 

Location: Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, Joe Michael Memorial Trail

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Killdeer/lifehistory#habitat

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 13, 2021

I am known as a Killdeer

I have a large range but I don't like cold weather

When the temperature falls under 50 degrees

I'll migrate south to warm up my feathers.

Location: West Cocoa

Sources: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Charadrius_vociferus/

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

May 2, 2018

Location: Sebastain, Riverview Park parking lot

I am now an adult Killdeer
But I was precocial when I was born¹.
That means I had feathers and I could see
Unlike altricial chicks who are not fully formed.

¹ Like all birds, Killdeer are hatched from eggs. They stay in the eggs about 2 weeks longer than altricial birds which gives the  feathers and eyes more time to fully develop. But "hatched" and "developed" don't rhyme, so I used artistic license and said "born". But you know what I meant.

Sources:

• Birdwatching.com: The Precocious Killdeer
• Precocoal and Atricial Young

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

February 1, 2018

Location: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

I am known as a Killdeer.
I am a really good mom.
If you get to close to my nest, to distract you away,
I'll pretend I've got a broken arm.

(Note - I think this only rhymes for those of you in the Boston area.)

Sources: Cornell Lab - Killdeer

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson