Subject: Whatcom/Skagit Co. Nighthawk
Date: Jun 16 22:18:52 2004
From: Kurt Ranta - kckar at earthlink.net


Hello,
Since it seems to me that the Common Nighthawk is becoming less "common" in
NW Wa., I figured I would report one individual I saw around the Whatcom /
Skagit Co. line near Baker Lake below Mt. Baker on 6/15. I have only seen
nighthawks here a few times in probably 8 years. I talked to a longtime
Bellingham resident the other day, and he said that a few decades ago, they
were common around Lake Whatcom. And now he very rarely sees them. I
think we can all figure out why that is.

Its interesting how birder's like myself tend to get excited about an
unusual sighting when its not necessarily good for the bird. For me, the
most rewarding rare bird sightings are of birds that are genuinely scarce
in their habitat and, presumably, my skills as a birder (or sheer luck)
attributed to the sighting. But if its not that, it probably means: A) the
bird is offtrack; B) the species is actually increasing (but still
uncommon); or C) the species population is declining (as I would think the
case is with the nighthawk in W. Wa.) I would argue that the saddest rare
bird is the one that wasn't so rare that long ago (option C). I strongly
believe this because I have birded a fair amount in the diminishing Latin
American rainforest, and been excited over seeing "once common, now rare"
birds. I value those sightings so much, in part, because it might be the
last time I see that species.

I realize that, whether here or abroad, there are many complicated
considerations when it comes to "saving what we have" vs. "developing
further". Regardless, I do know that a local newspaper article today
announcing the addition of 800 new homes going into a large tract of green
space in east Mt. Vernon discourages me. Why more, when so much is for
sale already. I imagine I am preaching to the converted.

Just to end on a positive note, I also had a probable Goshawk at the same
location (...the most rewarding option)

Kurt



Kurt Ranta
Mt. Vernon, WA
kckar at earthlink.net