In most species of birds and mammals, one or both parents care for their offspring. Caring for the young may include making a nest or other shelter. It may also include feeding the young and protecting them from predators. Caring for offspring increases their chances of surviving. Birds called killdeers have an interesting way of protecting their chicks. When a predator gets too close to her nest, a mother killdeer pretends to have a broken wing. The mother walks away from the nest holding her wing as though it were injured ( Figure below ). The predator thinks she is injured and will be easy prey. The mother leads the predator away from the nest and then flies away.
Mark was pruning a tree in his yard when he heard the sound of young squirrels. He started t look for the nest but to his surprise he only saw the mother. She was in a nearby tree and the noise he heard was coming from that direction.
Was Mark hearing the babies or the mother?