Recently we have seen a lot of killdeer in our backyard and in neighbors’ yards. We are convinced that they are thumbing their noses at Darwin, or perhaps particularly dumb birds. Must homes in our neighborhood have at least one dog and yet every year these birds return, lay their eggs on the ground and, once the chicks hatch, proudly shepherd them across lawns. And for much of the time they make raucous calls. The birds are, admittedly, masters of distraction. They will imitate a bird with a broken wing or dive-bomb any threats to try to lead them away. Our dog, Lolo, is, it can’t be denied, easy to distract. We’re not sure what she would do if she ever caught one. But there doesn’t seem much danger in that. Need I add, we ooh and ahh at the chicks who are especially cute because they resemble minituarized adults.