This intriguing bird is one of the first to begin its southward migration. Nighthawks are now beginning to flock up and begin their long journey to South America where they will spend the winter.
Though this bird is named a nighthawk it is neither a hawk nor a nocturnal hunter. The common nighthawk actually hunts at dawn and dusk. Animals that are most active at these times are called crepuscular. As the nighthawk hunts insects in the air, it makes a nasal “peent” call. If you follow the call, you may get a glimpse of this long-winged bird. A great clue that you’ve found one is the white patches near the tips of the bird’s wings. The rest of the bird’s body is a mottle grey and brown which gives it excellent camouflage from predators.
Did you know?
The nighthawk’s wide mouth makes it an insect-eating machine. In a single day one bird can catch over 500 mosquitoes!
Learn more: Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Many different aster and goldenrod species bloom in the woods and near the lakeshore at CWES during August. There are 24 different species of goldenrods in Wisconsin and 30 aster species, many of which can be tricky to distinguish from one another.
Learn more:
Learn more about goldenrods: Cofrin Center for Biodiversity
Learn more about asters: Cofrin Center for Biodiversity
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