Sooo, as I pull in to a parking space behind Collins Perley Sports Complex for a lacrosse game, a bird shrieks at me and won't shut up!! She charges at me a bit as I open the trunk, and then retreats. Could there be a ground nest nearby? Yes -- nearly at my feet, in fact!!

Turns out, she's a momma-to-be "killdeer" a beautiful little bird, guarding her egg in a stony nest next to the gravel lot. Soooo, she and I danced a bit as I take pictures -- she even did the fan-the-tail, fake-broken-wing thing for me ... and I eventually moved my little blue car to a bit of an unconventional parking spot to help protect her egg.

In keeping with the native american heritage of lacrosse, I adopt a new name -- "Dances With Killdeer" ... Here's hoping my friend's birdling survives!!