By Bonnie Culverhouse

Morris Busby may have been known by many titles, but only recently he became “Bird Savior.”

“I was at the church (Calvary Baptist Church) and got a phone call about a bird on the ground at the church,” Busby said. “I walked out there and, at that time, there were three little eggs in … actually they are big eggs for the size of the birds.” The next day there were four eggs.

Killdeer lay their eggs on the ground out in open, often among stones, hiding them in plain sight. The way they keep from being eaten by a snake, cat, fox, or crow is by looking just like the rocks.

“If you get near the nest, the bird that’s sitting on it will run out into the grass and flop around like it’s dying,” said Busby. “It’s a distraction, so you won’t get close to the nest.”

The nests are seldom abandoned; Mama Killdeer sits on it during the day and Daddy takes the night shift.

Busby said he was concerned the lawn service workers would not see the nest, so he contacted Bennie Wood and warned him. Then, Busby picked up a small amount of wire fencing during an estate sale.

“I asked how much it was and the lady told me it was three dollars,” he said. “I told her what I was going to do with it and she said, here, if you’re taking it to protect the birds and help the church just take it.”

After making a few adjustments to the fencing, Busby set up a perimeter around the nest.

“The birds seem to be content with going back and forth,” he said.

Calvary Baptist Church is on the corner of La. Highway 531 and U.S. Hwy. 79 in Minden.