Thank you Bruce for the report,

Why are Nighthawks declining in more rural areas? (or are they?)

Some of the theories for the decline in Nighthawks in metropolitan areas
have included a great increase in predating American Crows, the
transformation of remaining refugium wild lots (so-called "vacant lots")
into buildings with inappropriate landscapes and more roads, an increase in
house cats, a decline in gravel roofs that they nested on and a decline in
appropriate insect prey in metropolitan areas.

What reasons might there be for the decline of Nighthawks in relatively
rural Clallam County?

To what degree are Nighthawks declining in more rural areas where they have
recently been common? (of course that begs the question of what is
"rural" - wilder areas or farmed areas or both?

What can we do to slow and reverse the decline of these creatures of
wonderful summer memories?

-Stewart
Stewart Wechsler
Ecological Consulting
West Seattle
206 932-7225
ecostewart at quidnunc.net

-Advice on the most site-appropriate native plants
and how to enhance habitat for the maximum diversity
of plants and animals
-Educational programs, nature walks and field trips
-Botanical Surveys



-Advice on the most site-appropriate native plants
and how to enhance habitat for the maximum diversity
of plants and animals
-Educational programs, nature walks and field trips
-Botanical Surveys


-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Moorhead Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 9:37 AM
To: Tweeters; Bob Boekelheide; Bob Norton
Subject: [Tweeters] Nighthawks near Lake Sutherland in northern Clallam
Co.

I don't know about you, but I see and hear fewer and fewer nighthawks it
seems out here on the Olympic Peninsula. This past Sat., July 19, at 9 p.m.
I finally saw (and heard) my first two nighthawks this year circling above
Fisher Cove Rd. along the rather undeveloped west end of Lake Sutherland,
just east of Lake Crescent in Olympic N.P., sonic swoops and all. Kinda
made my day.
Bruce Moorhead
Port Angeles, WA
bruceb at olypen.com



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Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 270.4.10/1549 - Release Date: 7/12/2008
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