FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] Nighthawk "nest"

[Christine Lattin <girlchild44@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi everyone,
   
  Got a tip off on a "nesting" nighthawk at the Blue Grass Army Depot (thanks 
Gary!) which is really something to behold. I put the quotes around nesting 
because the nighthawk seems to find a patch of gravel near a road to be a 
perfectly good spot to lay eggs and now, to incubate her young. Yesterday I 
approached her on foot and she gave me quite a show, skittering awkwardly away 
from me, making the weirdest noise I have ever heard (a choked, dry rattle is 
the best way I can describe it), and rearing up on her wings in a threatening 
way. Then I saw her fly up awkwardly with what looked like fuzzy bumps on her 
body - could this have been her babies? Were they clinging to her, or was she 
carrying them to safety? She came back, unencumbered, and made several dives at 
me, calling the whole time. 
  Today I drove by in my car and she was quite unperturbed. She lay on her 
patch of gravel in the sun with a mottled fuzzy baby by her side - so cute! 
  On an unrelated note, today I also had the pleasure of watching a bobcat 
stalk something in a patch of bushes, pounce and come up empty-handed 
(empty-pawed?) A good nature day!  
   
  Cheers,
  Christine Lattin

       
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