Alas, I have sad news to relate. Our Killdeer-To-Be are no more. I'm not sure how they could have gotten run over by a car, with the flag and the rocks, but I suppose it was possible... and I would prefer to think that, then that they were stepped on deliberately by a child. Marylee said she saw some boys out near the nest and asked them to leave, earlier.

We had a small moment of silence at the grave. Dustin and Brock were the buriers. Scott and Tessa gave short eulogies. The remainder of us were mourners, and all of us dripped. Very rainy day.

I read that killdeer often have two nests in a season, so I am pleased they can go start again - but I hope they don't do it in our gravel patch this time. :( No way I can keep them safe during convention, if they didn't even manage one big workday. The mother bird sat near where her nest had been and cried for a while and then she was gone - doubtless to build again. Lesson of the day: don't let one disaster keep you from ever trying again.