[wisb] Re: Nighthawk musings
- From: ROBERT SPAHN <rspahn@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "petermckeever@xxxxxxxxxxx" <petermckeever@xxxxxxxxxxx>, 'Wisconsin Birding Network' <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 1 Sep 2013 09:19:07 -0700 (PDT)
Peter:
Interesting and complicated question relative to the nighthawks. First
thing, for the northern tier of states and a bit south late August and early
September is the peak time for Common Nighthawk migration, so people will
encounter them both by going to spots where they are known to pass annually or
by just being out birding and running into groups moving, typically in the
evening. Looking up much is often not required. I still remember as a kid
playing golf tournaments in Iowa (not far off the Mississippi River) and
wrapping up at dusk in late August having hordes of nighthawks sweeping over
the course at head level or less doing some hunting, but mainly just moving
south.
This summer in Vilas County. on 8/16 we had birds hunting, "beeping", and
booming over clearcuts (where they breed) not far off the Wisconsin River. On
8/23, 24, and 25, we had sizeable numbers migrating west to east with little
sign of erratic movements of feeding other than the groups we had dropping
briefly over the Wisconsin River to feed before moving on as I noted earlier
for the 25th. In that period in checking a few breeding areas we found none.
On these three dates, the observations were serendipitous; we were
basically birding (as always) and aware of the CONI possibility, but not
specifically searching. On the 23rd the birds were over the south edge of Eagle
River passing as we completed pumping gas and at that point over a "suburban"
type setting.
On the 24th the birds we saw were over a patchwork of intact and clearcut
county and state forest and from treetop height to very high. On the 25th the
"special" part was the wide span of the observations, with birds in sight
headed w to e for about 6 miles of our s to n driving and then continuously for
our 3 miles more driving west.
The several postings sound like there was widspread movement over this
period over much of WI and on south and that many spotted numbers that were
high relative to recent experience.
Bob Spahn
From: Peter McKeever <petermckeever@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: 'Wisconsin Birding Network' <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, August 31, 2013 9:26 PM
Subject: [wisb] Nighthawk musings
Nighthawks feed on insects - Recognizing that some of the many recent
reports are of sightings at significant height, query whether there is any
commonality with apparent insect habitat among the areas where the common
nighthawks are being reported - wetlands, urban, prairie, agriculture,
forest, etc? Also wondering if bats are being seen in the same areas?
Or are there any other characteristics that the sites share, other than
nighthawk sightings? For many species we intentionally seek them in
specific habitats. Is that the case with nighthawks and at this time of
year, or are folks basically stumbling upon them by remembering to look up
at dusk?
Peter McKeever
Monona
-----Original Message-----
From: wisbirdn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wisbirdn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Dwight Alton. Rockton, Il.
Sent: Saturday, August 31, 2013 8:12 PM
To: Wisconsin Birding Network
Subject: [wisb] Nighthawks here in N. Illinois also.
I was watching the sky over the schoolhouse and chimney again tonight hoping
to see the swifts circling again. It seems that the Swifts would start to
gather over the building and then just sort of disperse for a while. As I
was watching this process, Nighthawks started to appear out the north. I do
not think they were feeding because they pretty much just flew without all
of the darting around that Nighthawks do when chasing insects. Could not
estimate numbers but there was a lot of them.
Dwight Alton. Rockton Il.
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