The Drama of a Broken Wing
If you’ve ever walked near a grassy field and spotted a bird flopping along the ground, calling out and dragging a wing as if injured, you may have witnessed one of nature’s most remarkable performances. This is the killdeer’s broken-wing act— a brilliant bluff designed to lead predators away from their vulnerable nest on the ground.
I recently captured this photo of a killdeer mid-drama, performing her heroic distraction dance to protect her speckled eggs tucked nearby. It’s a powerful image, and it inspired a scene in my current picture book manuscript, where a young character discovers the clever ways wildlife parent birds protect their young.
Nature is full of stories. This one just might find its way to a bookshelf near you.