Thanks Dan,
There isn't any information like that in Natl. Geo or Sibley field guides;
way to go Cornell Birds online! Very interesting. Now I wonder if this is
a behavior that Killdeer have developed after people started lighting up
fields and parking lots at night or if they've always had nocturnal
tendencies...
Thanks!
Joe

On Nov 6, 2011 1:41 AM, <notcalm at comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> Hello Joe,
>>
>> The following is from Cornell Birds on Line:
>>
>> "Long, pointed wings allow rapid flight and quick maneuvers. Northern
>> populations are migratory, southern ones resident. The Killdeer is active
>> both day and night and can often be heard calling overhead in the darkness,
>> especially in early spring and late summer. Mall parking lots and lighted
>> ball fields seem to be attractive for nocturnal activities, which include a
>> great deal of socializing, calling, and foraging."
>>
>> "Flight
>>
>> Flight is rapid and strong. Birds in flocks generally are well dispersed.
>> Rate of wing-flap-ping 2.4 flaps/s (*n* = 3; Blake 1947<http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/517/articles/species/517/biblio/bib023>).
>> Flight speeds measured from an automobile (no mention of local winds)
>> included 45?56 km/h for birds in leisurely flight; one individual could not
>> be overtaken at 89 km/h (McLean 1930<http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/517/articles/species/517/biblio/bib147>
>> )."
>>
>> I have also seen and heard the behavior you reported at night, usually
>> above well lit areas and above park parking lots.
>>
>> Dan Reiff
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From: *"Joe Meredith" <joemmoby at u.washington.edu>
>> *To: *tweeters at u.washington.edu
>> *Sent: *Friday, November 4, 2011 8:04:48 PM
>> *Subject: *[Tweeters] Killdeer Behavior at Night
>>
>> Howdy Tweets,
>>
>> Last night while walking through the Montlake Fill (6:30-7:00pm) I
>> noticed a pair of Killdeer flying and vocalizing. I'm fairly sure that
>> I've heard the same calls from above my house (near the Green Lake
>> Reservoir) at night. Is this type of nocturnal activity normal for
>> Killdeer? Has anyone else made similar observations?
>>
>> ~Joe Meredith
>> Seattle
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> Tweeters at u.washington.edu
>> http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
>>
>
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