|
Statistics
Members: 237
News: 1054
Web Links: 17
Visitors: 640460
|
Bird Lovers Corner
Pat Westheuser, a director of Central Okanagan Naturalists Club, can be reached at 769-6605, or email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Question: I have seen crow sized birds with erratic flight and emitting a booming sound over the past few evenings. What are they?
Answer: These birds are common nighthawks, one of the last birds to arrive in our area around the last week of May and leaving in mid August to early September, to winter in South America. The bird is 9.5 inches in length, weighs 2.2 ounces with a wingspan of 24 inches. It has a rather grouse like appearance, the males having a white throat and a white band on the tail. Both sexes have a white patch on each wing that can be seen when in flight.
They feed on insects late afternoon and evening and roost on the ground or a tree branch during the day. They prefer open habitat e.g. logged and slash burned areas, fields, open Ponderosa forests and gravel areas. They have been known to roost and nest on gravel roofs. They glide on raised wings but fly erratically with deep wing beats.
The 'boom 'sound is created when the birds swoop after insects and is made by the tail feathers. They have large mouths to catch the insects and near the ground they are attracted to flying ants. The boom sound is also created during courtship.
The nest is built (no nesting material is used) on sandy soil, on tree stumps, gravel beds, wood chips, leaves, needles, moss and lichens. Usually there are two eggs with an incubation period of 20 days. These birds are suffering a decline, as are many other species. If you would like to learn more about birds and natural history, the Central Okanagan Naturalists Club holds monthly meetings and outings for this purpose. |
|
Subscription
Special OfferOrder 12 ISSUES of the CHOICE for family and friends for only $12.00 plus gst (Canada only). Send your name and address and a cheque to Seniors Choice at Box 41075 RPO South, Lake Country, BC V4V 1Z7
MYRA CANYON KELOWNA BC
SILVER STAR VERNON BC
|
