Tweets:
Nighthawks used to be plentiful in Seattle. I grew up during the 20's on
Beacon Hill's 12th Avenue South. Summer-evening skies were alive with them,
and what my mother called "Chimney swifts" (no doubt Vaux's). She was from
Missouri and we didn't argue with her - until I got older. I was fascinated with
this nightly display, and remember asking numerous questions about birds: why
didn't we see something besides these noisy things and robins, sparrows and
mallards? I wanted to see parrots, and storks - especially with babies in slings.
Well, it took a while before I discovered who actually delivered THEM.

Amy McQuade
Mercer Island
mcbrdwchr at aol.com