Killdeer Nesting Now in SE Iowa

[JIvers]

I found a killdeer with three eggs in her "nest" today (March 25) in an empty gravel lot where I store my boat for the winter. I'd seen her hanging around a few days ago, but today was the first time I caught her brooding her clutch. At that point she did the whole "LOOK AT ME! I HAVE A BROKEN WING AND WILL MAKE AN EASY MEAL!" thing.

Killdeer are common, and I know about their habit of nesting on bare gravel, but do they usually nest this early? Pretty much any year besides this one, I would think a small bird like a killdeer would have a tough time keeping eggs warm on the ground in March, even "down south" by Iowa City. But then, I've never heard that killdeer don't normally nest in late March, nor have I ever bothered checking when they usually nest.

I did not have a camera with me, but I will go back and photograph the eggs and killdeer if anyone wants...assuming a coon, possum, or heavy-footed human doesn't find the eggs on purpose or by accident.