Killdeer birds have settled on NW.

These small, coastal birds with brown-and-white striped chests are described as widespread, numerous and noisy.

The reason they decided to migrate to NW Campus is probably to lay their eggs, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. As the population of the birds increase every year, so do the number of eggs laid.
“The birds are very annoying, but it is pretty cool that they decided to choose this campus to lay their eggs,” NW student Thomas Ayers said.

The eggs are mostly located near the water, but there may be some closer to the campus that have not been discovered, a NW groundskeeper said.

Because of the number of eggs and their camouflage color, it is easy to inadvertently step on or get close to a nest. To avoid this, the campus asks that everyone stay at least 50 feet away from the eggs for the protection of the birds and the eggs.

Mark Schusler, NW horticulture assistant, has observed the killdeers.

“It’s not unusual to see them on campus this time of year, but this is the first time I’ve seen barricades set up to protect them,” he said.
Yellow barricades with the words “50 feet away” written on them help keep the killdeer eggs from harm.

“We put the barricades over them to protect them,” the groundskeeper said. “One of our main goals is to protect the wildlife.”
—Sam Brouse