GREENFIELD — Adam Wilson said he really only has one obsession at a time. But the exploration and discovery within the world of birding never seems to get old, he said. Traveling the country to add new species to the list can be exhilarating, but sometimes all it takes is glancing across the street.
Wilson and Richard Garrett, co-leaders of the Greenfield Birders group, discovered the nesting place of a family of common nighthawks residing on the north side of Greenfield. Incredibly difficult to spot during the day, the male nighthawk’s favorite roosting spot appears to be on the power lines at the intersection of State Road 9 and New Road, Wilson said.
Garrett’s research has led him to pinpoint the nesting spot of the nighthawk on top of a building on the north side of town — most likely on top of the office of the Daily Reporter, he said. When residing in urban areas, nighthawks prefer to make their homes on gravel roofs, he said.
The common nighthawk actually isn’t a hawk at all, but a nightjar, according to the National Audubon society. Common nighthawks have distinctive white markings and nocturnal feeding habits, and they have recently seen a significant decline in population across North America.
Interestingly, they have some of the longest migration routes of all birds, Garrett said. The nighthawk family living here in Hancock County likely flies as far south as Argentina during the winter months before returning to Greenfield around May, he said.
Garrett said whenever he attends a local youth football or baseball game, he often listens for the nighthawk’s cry as it begins its hunt at the turn of dusk. The insect eaters are drawn to Friday night lights, which means supper time for the nighthawks.
The Greenfield Birders have been active in town for about two years, Wilson said. They hold three bird watches a month at Beckenholdt, Brandywine and Thornwood Nature Reserve.
They’re always welcoming new members who are passionate about the vocation, Garrett said. He found more than 36 species of birds in a single 1½-hour walk last month, he said.
“Sometimes it isn’t even about finding something brand new, it’s just about the adventure and experience of searching for it,” Wilson said. “You might have a new experience with a bird you’re already familiar with.”
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Check out more from the Greenfield Birders group on Thursday’s Just4Fun page.
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