Jen was not the only person to see a first nighthawk push this evening.
Between 7:30-8pm, I was heading south on Sawmill Parkway about to cross
Powell Rd (about a mile from the Columbus Zoo) in southern Delaware county
when around 10-12 Common Nighthawks came from the shopping center (from the
south/west) area heading north/east just above downtown Powell.  Their moth
like erratic flight and white window spots caught my attention.  I have been
watching for the start of their migration the last couple weeks.  Several
birds were feeding low over the field behind the Graeters store.



Saturday evening, I went to Sells Middle School in Dublin Ohio to count
swifts and only about 300 birds descended into the chimney between 8:28 and
8:47pm.  They started gathering around 8:20 and it was fun to watch the
swirling cloud grow.  At the same time I was watching 2 nighthawks feeding
over the ravine to the north of the school and along the Scioto River
corridor to the east.  They were calling and diving and putting on a good
show.  One got curious when the swift number were growing and came over to
check things out.  Instantly about 8 swifts broke their counter clockwise
flight and chased off the larger moth-like intruder.  I was surprised to see
this type of behavior from both species.



Darlene Sillick

Powell, Ohio



PS: The owner of the wayward scope and tripod were reunited at Glacier Ridge
Metro Park yesterday afternoon.


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