The Common Nighthawk

Short video about an encounter with a common nighthawk mother and her 2 babies.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• breakgive
• common
• nighthawk
• nature

[guitarbo1]

I used to tractor-mow fields in FLA and luckily I would notice their nest on the ground first. I would get down to mark the nest with flagging pole, and the mother would drag her wing to appear injured, until I got TOO close. Good memories.

[breakgive]

Wow! Thank you for going to that much trouble for those cool, bug eating birds. I read that they can eat 500 mosquitoes in one day! But if I could fly, I surely wouldn't have my babies on the ground!!! Thanks guitarbro1.

[NVanWendy]

Nice job! Amazing adaptation, isn't it? I almost walked into a Kildeer once, which performed the same routine for me, except that its "broken wing" wouldn't let it fly at all!

[Abrfitch1892]

I would give anything to do that!

[breakgive]

Thanks Richard, after having this bird make an appearance on my regular walk, I learned more about her and took this video. I also blocked off the trail as best I could to discourage traffic. These birds don't build nests. They just lay their eggs on the ground. I saw her eggs. Once hatched, she moved her babies daily and I think all survived.