The Pennsylvania Game News, published by the Game Commission, has a recurring feature entitled “The Naturalist’s Eye,” written by Marcia Bonta. In the latest issue Ms. Bonta discusses the common nighthawks, an interesting bird with white wing bars and throat.
I have never seen one. I probably never will. The “common” nighthawk is no longer common. Between 1983-89 and 2004-2009 the nighthawk had the biggest decline of all the birds studied in Pennsylvania. One reason perhaps is fewer insects because of pesticides. Nighthawks do use man-made structures to nest, especially flat roofs with gravel topping. Unfortunately, few roofs are made that way anymore.
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