On this cool, breezy evening in Columbia, Missouri, I went out to the back deck for a bird count. After spending an hour in the lounge chair, I had seen a fair variety of birds, all common summer residents in our area.
As dusk progressed, I was about to go inside when a flock of common nighthawks appeared in the darkening sky; numbering 32, they were drifting to the SSE. To my delight, this initial flock was followed by two more, all heading the same direction; the total count for all three flocks was 84.
Though large flocks of migrating nighthawks are not unusual in late August and early September, this evening's spectacle, unexpected and almost missed, was especially inspiring as the silent travelers passed overhead. They are on their way to South America, always leaving well ahead of the autumn chill; unlike some insectivores (e.g. chimney swifts), which stick around until mid October, nighthawks do not risk any depletion of their prey (flying insects). Feeding on the wing as they migrate, they will not return to the Heartland until early May.
As dusk progressed, I was about to go inside when a flock of common nighthawks appeared in the darkening sky; numbering 32, they were drifting to the SSE. To my delight, this initial flock was followed by two more, all heading the same direction; the total count for all three flocks was 84.
Though large flocks of migrating nighthawks are not unusual in late August and early September, this evening's spectacle, unexpected and almost missed, was especially inspiring as the silent travelers passed overhead. They are on their way to South America, always leaving well ahead of the autumn chill; unlike some insectivores (e.g. chimney swifts), which stick around until mid October, nighthawks do not risk any depletion of their prey (flying insects). Feeding on the wing as they migrate, they will not return to the Heartland until early May.
