I miss nighthawks. Haven’t seen one in years.
I used to watch them at dusk during the big termite hatches in elk season. The termites are pretty big, and backlit. The sky is full of them, and the nighthawks wheel around, and the light spots disappear in their paths. They’re logging the area...maybe I’ll be able to see them again. Should be opening up a lot of ground for nesting, too.
Nighthawks were extremely abundant in the St Louis area... in the late afternoon I’d hear them ‘peent’ constantly. In the 90s I’d watch several doing their dives and booms every evening like clockwork, amazing. I haven’t been there since but I doubt it has changed.
I miss bobwhites. Haven’t seen nor heard one in years.