Meet my friend Mrs. Killdeer. She has taken up residence in the backyard of the school where I am a preschool teacher. I live in South Florida, backing up to the Everglades, on the edge of one of the United State's largest natural wonders. The Everglades are described as a swamp land, chock-filled with not only with alligators but with many wondrous flora and fauna. The Florida everglades, in and of itself is a breathtaking example of nature. Take a look at mommy kildeer's gorgeous coloring.

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These are her offspring.

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My students and I have observed her and her "husband" for almost three weeks and are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their babies. We've studied them intently, both with our own eyes and by researching their species on the internet. We've learned that she employs a "broken-wing" defense mechanism ... by doing this, she lures predators away from her babies and is actually a true fighter. They are friendly and not overtly agressive yet cautious. If you get too close, they will, as experienced personally by myself, indeed fly directly at you to distract you. Believe you me, I must have cringed and jumped at least 5 feet into the air when "mommy" swooped towards me ... and faked a broken wing so that I wouldn't get too close to their nest. She thoroughly convinced me to leave their offspring alone and to focus on them and to not attempt to immortalize their future family on film. At least for a short while. heh

They eat small rodents, snakes and insects. The babies will hatch ... not bald and less than attractive as with most avian infants, but fuzzy and poofy ... much like a baby chicky. Can you imagine these fluffly little baby killdeers with those gorgeous black and white rings around their necks? Popping out of their shells and immediately commencing to search for a tasty bug? Can you imagine the anticipation we are experiencing with each passing day? We've printed out photos of what these little birds will look like once they hatch and are eagerly awaiting their birth days.

All of my little four and five year old students ... each day, go outside and set a bowl of water and clear any debris from her nesting site. I know there is no way she'll take advantage of the administrations of my well-intentioned kiddos, but their heart is in the right place and we are so excited.

Last night, some uncaring, heartless and soul-less people broke into our facility and used their car as some huge wrecking machine. An unfeeling toy. Wreaking havoc and mayhem. They executed what is known as "donuts" in our field. This is what is left of our little killdeer family's nest.

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Note the flattened grass where the tires have decimated everything living thing in sight.

What do you say to a pre-kindergarten child when they ask about these defenseless creatures? .... Some of the most repeated questions I hear are, "Where are they now?" "Are they died?" "Are they in heaven?"

I can not even tell you how enraged and helpless I feel everytime I have to explain to these youngsters about the callous and thoughtless actions of others. There is a bone deep ache in my heart when I see their eyes fill with tears. A feeling of helplessness engulfs me when I see them try to comprehend the finality of the killdeer's fate.

I want to punish these callous humans. Not with physicality, but with artistic emotions. I have decided to channel my fury and volatile emotions into a contest. I challenge you to express youselves.

I will donate a one year subsciption to the one whom I feel most captures the rage/helplessness/fury/unfairness/pity/empathy/sorrow that I am experiencing at this moment. A six month sub to 2nd place and a three month sub to 3rd place.

If you feel as passionately as I do, and if you'd like to donate anything to this contest, or would like to help me judge entries, please feel free to note me.

Rules are:

1. Anything you submit, must be a new submission. Submitted after I've posted this on May 13th.
2. Any medium can be used, whether literature, photography, manipulations, mixed media. Absolutely anything.