Killdeer are a type of plover that is quite common on the island. They nest here, often on the mudflats surrounding our salt ponds. In these pictures, I believe they are engaged in what is called a scrape ceremony. This is how they choose a nesting site and is often the prelude for mating. The male will scrape the ground with his feet and put his breast to the ground, then the female will also put her breast down on the site. The male will then lean forward and spread his tail feathers.
The photos were taken on the new Discovery Trail at Étang de la Barrière in Cul-de-Sac. It is an elevated wooden trail leading through the mangrove wetlands there, built by the Réserve Naturelle Saint-Martin. There is a wooden wall on part of the trail with openings to look through that acts as a blind, allowing visitors to watch birds while remaining partially hidden. This way the birds don’t feel threatened and visitors can enjoy watching their natural behavior. The trail is well worth a visit! The morning is the best time, the earlier, the better. There is information about Saint Martin’s four discovery trails here: http://reservenaturelle-saint-martin.com/en/discovery-trails/discovery-trails
A big thank you to our recent supporters Natalia Rey and Matt Pakulski! I have heard that a couple people have had trouble using the Kickstarter site, particularly people outside the US. If you’ve had any difficulty, let me know. We can accept backing by other methods and will gladly offer the same rewards as on the Kickstarter page.
