Nighthawk Migration at North Valentine

There were a couple of good evenings to watch Common Nighthawk migration at Valentine in early September.

At the Mill Pond on the 3^rd, there were at least 27 nighthawks present about 7:15 p.m. Some were very close above the pier, with a couple seen picking bugs off the calm surface of the pond along Minnechaduza creek. It was a cloudy evening with no wind. Another seven nighthawks were seen at 8:156 while in Valentine watching Chimney Swift congregate at the 6x6 bricks chimney of the Sawyer Memorial Library.

A larger movement of nighthawks occurred on the 5^th during an observation time of nearly two hours, starting at 6:45 p.m. Details were:

1 at 6:45

3 at 6:48

23 at 6:51 going northerly, then quickly another two moving in the sky

1 at 7:00

1 at 7:10

19 at 7:36 going westerly along the Minnechaduza creek valley

14 at 7:51 going westerly, with another 4 going in an easterly direction

9 were going easterly at 8:02, with 6 going towards the west beneath the colorful clouds at dusk

67 going east then back west at 8:12; this was the highest count of these birds seen in the skyscape at a single time, but it may not represent the entire extent of the number present

2 at 8:20 going easterly, then 6 more

1 at 8:24 flitting about, plus 8 going westerly

7 at 8:29

1 at 8:34 going westerly

The birds were obviously moving about the area to find aerial insects to eat. There would be a greater opportunity to find suitable insect prey along the wooded creek valley, which is perhaps the reason for the notable east-to-west movement.

There was no vocalization heard while watching the birds.

No nighthawks were seen on the next two days during the same hours of observation.

One was seen on September 7, with a similar single bird on
the 12^th, again while watching swifts at Valentine.

Birdly Migration Wonders About Omaha

Autumn continues its progression and new wonders of Missouri Valley migration are now occurring.

The evenings of 16-17 September have been especially enjoyable for the number of chimney swifts and common nighthawks seen.

On both of the last two evenings, two huge roosts of swifts have been visited. There were about 1500 swifts the first night in the west Mercer Park area. These birds have previously used this structure, but the number observed is the single greatest count for birds at an autumn roost for Omaha.

On Wednesday evening, a different structure in the Blackstone district once again had about 1400 swifts, a number similar to the same date in 2013.

A few nighthawks were seen Tuesday, but on Wednesday were constantly overhead from Dundee to Cathedral, and the Joslyn and Blackstone neighborhoods. There were hundreds of birds kettling and silently bugging overhead.

There was an ample supply of bugs available. One large swarm in the neighborhood was obvious earlier in the neighborhood, and lesser bunches could be seen elsewhere during my bicycling about looking for chimneys being used by roosting swifts.

It's a fine evening when the antics of a multitude of swifts can be found and observed as they gather, circle about and then dart into their overnight shelter!

An Evening Nighthawk at Carthage

It is late in autumn for nighthawks to occur

But based upon a vivid look there is no reason to demure,

It was a late season view of a nighthawk so profound

Which was an observation based upon reasons so sound,

Among the birds of an evening's flight

This species presence was more than slight,

It was a single nighthawk seen

Flitting southward over the Carthage scene,

Though it is rather late in the season,

For one to be seen there is no adverse reason

The lengthy wings and flight seemed to be characteristic,

But being seen far away the id may not have been distinctive.

 

With other birds prevalent among the skies of an October eve,

Wending their way onward and often only slightly seen,

The primary time watching above during the descending light,

Was observing antics of swifts in numbers not slight.

It is autumn and here are chimneys where they descend,

Which are places were a birders time might ascend.

Swifts can only be enjoyed with attention,

Based upon multiple observations to enforce retention.

Get out in the night and enjoy the sight,

Because the time will be time spent so right.

Written October 11, 2013 while on the scene.

Last Nighthawks of Missouri Valley Autumn

On a fine evening with skies touched by sublime reds of an autumnal sunset, a lone nighthawk flitted southward beneath the clouds. It was a partly cloudy evening, with forceful winds from the south, ensuring that the bird had to make its determined way.

Every evening of the Common Nighthawk migration along the Missouri River valley is especially expressive by each event, however seen from any particular scene. Each is different. Winds vary. Any extent of cloudiness in never the same. Precipitation is profoundly influential, and sometimes stifling.

Colors of the sky convey the always changing characteristics as the nighthawks and other wildbirds move along during their southern migration, replicating movements represented by centuries before there were any chronicles.

Nighthawk sky on at October evening at Carthage.

At a local spot with an open vista from a Hamilton Street parking lot, the birds are the focus, while the local language certainly not English. On some recent nights, some residents were focused on a can or bottle of booze. The litter is obvious nearly daily.

Above the hard-scape of the city grounds, the skies are a place of freedom for the flights of birds, while — of course — ignoring the obvious hazards present, and most obviously indicated by multiple contrails of planes which split the blue with their artificial lines of a domineering civilization.

The last nighthawk of the season was silently making its way southward on the evening of October 8th over Carthage. There may have been others elsewhere, but no one was watching. Recent weather to the north has been harsh in the past few days, so where has this sojourner been lingering in apparent solitude beneath the sliver of a moon.

The sublime movement of each special Common Nighthawk migrating southward begins in September along the Missouri River valley. Their flight is a regular occurrence, but known to few that look into the skies as these birds move along in their autumnal migration.

During the early days of September, languidly flying along, these birds are obvious — especially in the evening skies — going southward above the urban-scape of Omaha. Numbers vary. There are several obvious places suited to their observation, extending from the riverfront, westward to midtown and to the western edge of the county, based upon observations made this season. Some inter-urban locales are vantage points where a wonderful multitude can be seen passing overhead in the expressively changing dome of the sky.

The Carthage neighborhood is an example. Just to the east of here, the Izard Industrial Zone also has a setting with features such as obscured skies suitable to observing an expanse without obstructions.

Most of the counts from this autumn come from these two places, such as Bellevue, Sarpy County, and the T.L. Davis Prairie along the Elkhorn River in western Douglas county. These other records are included, as indicated by the online forum NEBirds, to provide comparative details on the geographic extent of this season's autumnal nighthawk flights, as observed.

Results indicate that mid-September is a prime time to relax, find a comfortable seat that provides an expansive overhead view, note your time of arrival and pay attention to the antics of the nighthawks.

The peak count from this autumn was September 11th, when approximately 1400 were noted in east Omaha, the extent split between Carthage and the Izard Industrial Zone, just to the east, across the bisectual traffic-strewn Northwest Radial Highway with its seemingly incessant road traffic. Once beyond, the spectacle in the skies once again were the sight to enjoy. It was a phantasmagoria of nighthawk flight. Fewer of these special birds continued to occur through September. The latest local record for this season was October 4th. There are other historic records from later dates, but snow storms in the west, chilly overnight temperatures, and other weather features have been sufficient to get the insect-eating nighthawks to move southward to more suitable climes.

This possibly final nighthawk of the season may not be the last occurrence of this species. There are several other records for October for the Douglas County area, so perhaps one or a few may still pass southward. Whether or not they will be seen, is not known?

Autumn Season Summary

This is summary of nighthawk counts for Missouri River valley region in east-central Nebraska for autumn 2013.

Julian Date	Bemis Park District	Mercer District	Izard District	Saddle Creek District	Carthage District	Dundee District	Memorial Park District	Midtown Omaha District	Elkhorn Valley District	Bellevue District
245	- -	- -	- -	16	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
246	- -	- -	57	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
247	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	46	- -	- -	- -
248	- -	- -	184	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
249	- -	- -	47	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
250	- -	65	33	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
251	- -	- -	191	- -	12	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
253	- -	- -	55	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	- -	- -
254	- -	- -	750	- -	672	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
255	- -	- -	15	- -	95	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
256	- -	- -	35	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
257	- -	- -	48	- -	22	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
258	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	6	- -	- -	- -	- -
259	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
261	- -	- -	57	- -	2	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
262	- -	- -	65	- -	5	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
263	- -	15	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
264	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	10	- -	- -
265	- -	- -	11	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
267	- -	- -	16	- -	7	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
268	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	55
269	- -	- -	3	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
270	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	35
271	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	12	- -	- -	43	- -
272	- -	- -	14	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
273	- -	- -	- -	- -	6	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
274	- -	- -	18	- -	55	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
275	22	- -	- -	- -	32	- -	- -	- -	- -	15
276	- -	- -	4	- -	28	- -	- -	- -	- -	8
277	- -	- -	4	- -	12	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
281	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -

Julian date 281 is October 8, 2013.