Female Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) nest on open ground, often on gravel. They may use a slight depression in the gravel to hold the eggs, but they don't line it at all, or line it only with a few stones. Since there is no structure to stand out from its surroundings, a killdeer nest blends marvelously into the background. The speckled eggs themselves looks like stones. Killdeers are tolerant of humans. If a predator approaches, a nesting killdeer performs a conspicuous distraction display, dragging itself as if mortally wounded, often on one foot, its wings seemingly broken and its rusty tail fanned toward the intruder. This feigning of injury is effective in luring the predator away from the eggs or young, at which point the bird then 'recovers' and flies off, calling loudly. Athol, MA.