The Killdeer of Jersey Island

This little fellow, a killdeer, could be our biggest concern for our newly planted rice seeds. We have dozens of these birds around Jersey Island. They have been interested in checking out our fields when it has been free of water over the last several months. 

From Cornell Labs--the leader in bird research...

Killdeer—"Feeds primarily on invertebrates, such as earthworms, snails, crayfish, grasshoppers, beetles, and aquatic insect larvae. Follows farmers' plows in hopes of retrieving any unearthed worms or insect larvae. Will also eat seeds left in agricultural lands. An opportunistic forager, Killdeer have been observed hunting frogs and eating dead minnows."

Let's hope he doesn't like the seeds underwater.