As the eggs get closer to hatching, the parents become more attentive and also very vocal.   There is the usual, familiar  peep-peeeep, but other sounds in which they seem to be voicing their agitation with intruders and sending other signals.  From the beginning, both parents have taken turns in tending the eggs.
 

Killdeer are not rare birds but they are fun to watch.  A pair laid 3 eggs in the gravel bed on which the large water tank rests.  Nearby are several mud puddles perfect for taking a quick soak;  water drips off the wet belly feathers and  cools the eggs.

 
Scavengers hit the Preserve last week, clumsily hacking down this utility pole and carting away its wire. It turns out the line was dead and that actually the pole belongs to Chevron. 

On occasion a gopher is flooded out of its hole by a leaking drip line, as happened in this case. It was one soggy creature. .

In 20 days, the solar panels (shown being installed) have produced more electricity than has been used. It is expected the panels will produce 93% of the electricity needed to run the big tank's pump.

Tumbleweed Bramble Up-Close and Unpleasant.

Bird headed for kestrel box; unfortunately, it is not a kestrel but probably an European Starling. In a classic example of unintended consequences, there are millions of starling in the US, all descended from 100 birds introduced in 1890 by a Shakespeare aficionado who decided that every bird species mentioned by Shakespeare should be introduced into the United States. His original colony was in Manhattan's Central Park. They are throughout the US now. They are cavity nesters and therefore are in competition with native birds.