Thanks to the many folks who have been reporting on nighthawk movements.
I hope more reports of migration and breeding will be shared with
others. I checked with the Birds of North America text, where it is
admitted that "relatively little is known about this bird.*
        Most Ohioans see few nighthawks in spring: it seems flocks seen are
small, often passing quite high up, and unwilling to linger. The fall
migration is another phenomenon entirely, when flocks in four figures
have often been recorded, even though they are not so often seen in
recent years. These flocks apparently depend on insects--queen ants,
caddisflies, moths, true bugs--preferred (one stomach examined had 2175
flying ants but also 500 mosquitoes [BNA]).
        It seems universally acknowledged that these birds less often nest in
Ohio, which any careful observer over a few decades old can confirm. As
for the fall migration we're now seeing, their numbers are declining--I
cited some Columbus numbers in my post a few days ago, and other
locations report similar losses.
        I couldn't find certain basic information about the fall migration. Do
these birds migrate over the water of the Great Lakes, or do they work
the shorelines?  One record involved 16,496 seen in one spot along the
shoreline in Minnesota; perhaps the migrant hordes eschew open lake
waters and prefer shorelines, as well as inland lakes and rivers. Are
boaters well offshore seeing lots of nighthawks these days?  Another way
to ask the question might be "where are the bugs?"
        These are fascinating birds, and their gradual disappearance is another
bummer.
Bill Whan
Columbus


*As for "the Birds of North America." this valuable but expensive text
can be found in most good libraries, but it is often improved via new
research and discoveries available only on the electronic version. Good
libraries will provide internet access to the latest version of BNA
accounts. Check with your library.

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