A couple in the Chicago area helped delay construction on a new home after discovering a bird’s nest in the empty lot next door.
Ray and Shelly Romolt, who live in Lockport, had originally been happy to learn that the vacant property beside their house had been sold and would soon be turned into a new home. They had wanted neighbors for years.
But before construction could begin, the couple realized another family had already settled there.
After recently becoming more interested in local birds, Ray and Shelly had noticed two adult killdeer spending time in the lot. One day, while walking through the weeds, they discovered a nest containing four speckled eggs.
They knew that if construction started right away, the nest would likely be destroyed.
So, despite their excitement about the new house, the Romolts decided to speak up. They asked the construction company to pause work for just a short time until the eggs could hatch.
When a crew arrived with a bulldozer, Ray explained that killdeer are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The builder, D.R. Horton, advised the couple to contact the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to confirm the rules.
Shelly did, and officials confirmed that the birds were federally protected. The construction crew would need special permission to continue work near the nest, or they could face penalties.
Soon after, the site supervisor came to the property and placed caution tape and cones around the nesting area. The company assured the couple that the scheduled digging would be postponed until the birds had hatched.
The Romolts were grateful for how quickly the builder responded. While they still look forward to having new neighbors, they wanted to make sure the birds had a fair chance first.
For them, being good neighbors meant looking out not only for people, but for the wildlife already living nearby.