Nebraska Bird Partnership

Volunteers from across the country set out again after the sun went down to assist in the third year of the United States Nightjar Survey. The summer effort of 2009 resulted in the night survey of 249 routes that recorded: 348 common nighthawks, 708 chuck-will’s-widows, 392 whip-poor-wills, 168 common poorwills, 128 lesser nighthawks, and 1 common pauraque.  Read the full article from the Nightjar Survey in the Center for Conservation Biology e-Newsletter.

In Nebraska in 2009, bad weather during the survey period prevented many of the 14 registered routes from being run.  Nebraska volunteers detected 11 common nighthawks, 2 chuck-will's-widows, and 13 whip-poor-wills on 6 routes run in 2009.  Many routes remain open for 2010, so volunteers are encouraged to visit the Nightjar Survey Network website to sign up for a route.  Survey experience is not required; volunteers only need reliable transportation, average or better hearing, the ability to learn ~3 bird calls, and willingness to be out at night.