The Mama Killdeer

By Judy Lee Jenkins,

Living on a ranch offers many opportunities for me to observe different animals, whether they be cattle, horses, chickens, sheep, deer, coyotes, and even a mama killdeer bird. This particular bird caught my attention while working in my yard last spring.

Every part of the story is true and I decided to put it to a song because this mama bird touched my heart so much!! Since mother’s day is just around the corner, I would like to share my experience with you in this song that I put to a cheerful melody. Here it is:

ONE DAY WHILE BENDING OVER WEEDING IN MY YARD,
A HOEING AND A RAKING, WORKING MIGHTY HARD,
I HEARD A DISTRESSFUL CRY FROM A BIRD QUITE NEAR,
AND TURNED AROUND TO SEE A MAMA KILLDEER!!

melody change

SHE WAS SO UPSET DRAGGING ONE WING IN THE DIRT,
PRETENDING HER WING WAS BROKEN, PRETENDING SHE WAS HURT,
BUT I KNEW ALL ALONG SHE HAD A PLAN TO DECOY ME
AND LEAD ME FROM HER NEST, SHE HOPED I’D NEVER SEE.

chorus

‘CAUSE SHE’S A MAMA KILLDEER, PROTECTING HER NEST,
WITH A CLEVER GAME SHE PLAYS,
‘CAUSE SHE’S A MAMA KILLDEER, GUARDING HER YOUNG,
EACH AND EVERY DAY.

Verse 2

original melody

I TOLD HER I WAS SORRY TO GIVE HER SUCH A FRIGHT,
AND TRIED TO REASSURE HER EVERYTHING WOULD BE ALL RIGHT.
AND SINCE I WAS TIRED, I DROPPED MY HOE, WENT HOME TO REST.
THEN FROM MY KITCHEN WINDOW SAW HER SIT UPON HER NEST.

melody change

SHE FOUND A SPOT SHE CLAIMED AS HER VERY OWN,
IN BLEACHED OUT WOOD CHIPS THAT’S WHERE SHE MADE HER HOME.
CAMOUFLAGED WITH HER SAME COLORS IT WAS VERY HARD TO SEE,
JUST EXACTLY WHERE SHE CHOSE HER NEST TO BE.

Verse 3

original melody

DAY AFTER DAY I OBSERVED HOW PATIENTLY,
SHE SAT ON HER NEST SO LOYAL, SO FAITHFULLY,
SOME DAYS WERE WINDY BUT SHE TRIED HER VERY BEST,
TO NOT GET BLOWN AWAY AND STAY UPON HER NEST.

SEVERAL TIMES SHE BLEW AWAY AND TUMBLED LIKE A WEED,
BUT QUICKLY SHE RETURNED, DETERMINED GAVE NO HEED,
SOME DAYS WERE VERY RAINY,
SOME DAYS WERE VERY COLD,
BUT SHE NEVER BUDGED AN INCH, SAT EVER TRUE AND BOLD.

chorus

‘CAUSE SHE’S A MAMA KILLDEER, PROTECTING HER NEST,
WITH A CLEVER GAME SHE PLAYS,
‘CAUSE SHE’S A MAMA KILLDEER, GUARDING HER YOUNG
EACH AND EVERY DAY.

Verse 4

original melody

NEARLY A MONTH WENT BY, 23 DAYS TO BE EXACT,
THAT MOTHER’S DAY ARRIVED AND I TELL YOU IT’S A FACT!!
I RECEIVED SWEET CARDS FROM FAMILY SO DEAR,
AND THEN MY THOUGHTS RETURNED TO MAMA KILLDEER.

Melody change

SO I LOOKED OUT MY WINDOW AND WITH MUCH DELIGHT AND GLEE,
SAW 4 FLUFFY CHICKS LOOKING STRAIGHT UP AT ME!
MAMA KILLDEER WALKED UNDER MY WINDOW TO PROUDLY DISPLAY
HER ADORABLE LITTLE DARLINGS FOR ME ON MOTHER’S DAY!!

CHORUS

‘CAUSE SHE’S A MAMA KILLDEER, PROTECTING HER NEST,
WITH A CLEVER GAME SHE PLAYS,
‘CAUSE SHE’S A MAMA KILLDEER, GUARDING HER NEST,
EACH AND EVERY DAY.

© Copyright 2014 , All rights Reserved. Written For: Judy Lee's Music | Wonderful Heart Warming Music