The water levels at my favorite local marshland park (Huntley Meadows Park) are perilously low and I worry about the survival of some of its inhabitants. Some shore birds, however, have shown up that I don’t see regularly there, like this Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus).
The Latin name for this species seems to have been chosen well—these little birds are really loud as they fly by and announce their arrival. I find the bird’s English name to be a little creepy, although it has nothing to do with the four-legged animal, and instead was prompted by the bird’s shrill call that someone thought sounded like “kill-deer,” according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
In an ironic twist, the same day that I took this photo, I noticed that signs have now been placed in the park that indicate that deer killing is taking place. I understand the need to manage the deer population, which can quickly get out of hand because of the lack of predators, but I always feel a slight sense of unease when I see these signs, given that I have a tendency to wander off of the “established” trails.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
That’s a long time to have to stay on the trails. They must not be particularly good shots:)
I chuckled at your assessment on the archers’ hunting skills. It is pretty amazing how long their “season” lasts. I try to remain alert, but still wander quite a bit.
We have had hikers shot and killed in the forests of Washington state so your fears around hunting are well founded.
Thanks for the warning, Charlie. Fortunately this is a comparatively small suburban park, but I will remain alert and may wear a bit of bright orange.
Those signs always make me nervous too, especially when I’m walking with my kids. It’s not always clear where the boundary of designated areas is.
I will need to seek out a recording of a killdeer call now.
Here’s a link to some of the sounds. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/killdeer/sounds . The good news about the hunting is that it is archery only and the guys are in tree stands. I have not yet seen a hunter, though I have seen a couple of tree stands.
Thanks for saving me a google. Do I just lack auditory imagination or was there nothing in any of those links that sounded like “kill deer”? Certainly an interesting array of noises that they make though.
See, the archery actually worries me more. If someone has a gun then I can at least here that they are shooting in the vicinity and high tail it out of there whereas I am not likely to hear an arrow whizzing from a bow or a crossbow unless it is way too close for comfort and, therefore, not much of a warning. Of course, much more preferable would be to be far away from both.
I agree–I don’t hear “kill deer” at all. I’m actually not all that worried about the hunters. This is a public park and I think they are well controlled, though I will not be in the remote areas at dusk or early in the morning, just to be safe.
I rather suspect the onus is on the hunters to spot us rather than vice versa, especially given they are likely to be donning camouflage. I dress my kids in bright shirts when we go walking in the woods anyway, mostly so I can spot them when they wander off but there is a side benefit of them being easy to spot by those using weapons.
I do have a bright orange stocking hat that I wear in the winter and might consider getting an orange baseball cap too.
Yes, it’s time to break out the orange hat and vest. We have hunters shot every year at this time so I stay on the trails most of the time.
It pays to be cautious, especially if in remote areas. I may need to renew my supply of orange gear.
Beautiful shot of the killdeer, Mike. As for straying off the beaten path during hunting activities, take it from a Minnesota photography veteran: Wear a bright orange cap and wander where you wish. And if you have to blow your nose, don’t pull out a white handkerchief and wave it around!