Plight of the killdeer

This is the fourth year that Dale and I have observed the habits of the killdeer that make their spring nest in the vacant field near our house. On Sunday, the mother had laid three eggs. Usually, they lay four. On Monday, Dale discovered that two of the three had been smashed -- probably by people who use the field recreationally. The nests are made on the ground, with no protection of any sort around them. Today, Dale found that the mother had laid another egg, for a total of two that are intact. But it remains to be seen whether she and her mate will return to try to protect the nest and hatch the eggs. Stay tuned.