Photo by Jean Potter • A common nighthawk rests on a metal railing.

The skies are busy thoroughfares in autumn as the birds that raced like mad to reach spring nesting grounds are now reversing their journey to return to their usual winter range.

The common nighthawk has one of the longest migration routes of any North American bird. Twice a year, these birds migrate for distances ranging from 1,600 to 4,200 miles. Nighthawks that spend the spring and summer in Canada travel to southern South America for the winter months.

We’ve already reached mid-August, so nighthawks should soon provide their own contribution to the spectacle of fall migration. Keep looking skyward in the coming weeks to avoid missing the autumn passage of such varied migrants as chimney swifts, broad-winged hawks and common nighthawks.

So, what is a common nighthawk? First, this bird, despite what is implied by its name, is not a hawk. It’s also not strictly nocturnal. Particularly in the fall, nighthawks are active during daylight hours when engaged in catching winged insects. Outside of fall migration, these birds can often be observed over large parking lots or well-lit streets, snatching up insects swarming around the light poles.

The common nighthawk is one of three members of the nightjar family found in the region during the summer months. The other two nightjars are the whip-poor-will and chuck-will’s-widow, birds that produce their namesake vocalizations in the nocturnal hours. Both of these species migrate, but they don’t take the dramatic approach employed by nighthawks. Each fall, common nighthawks form large flocks, ranging in size from dozens to hundreds or even thousands of individuals, as they migrate south for the winter.

Unlike whips and chucks, the common nighthawk isn’t active only after dark, which makes it much easier to observe these birds. They look somewhat like swifts and swallows but are much larger. They are brownish-gray birds with pointed wings and forked tails. They are easily identified by distinctive white patches on the underside of their wings.

The nightjar, or Caprimulgidae, family of birds is also sometimes known as “goatsuckers.” Apparently, in trying to explain the nocturnal tendencies of these birds, the Greeks came up with the imaginative but erroneous idea that birds like nighthawks liked to sneak into barns and have a meal of fresh goat’s milk. In reality, nighthawks feed almost exclusively on insects, including ants, wasps, beetles, caddisflies, moths, mayflies, flies, crickets, grasshoppers and other insects. They capture much of their insect prey on the wing.

There are almost 80 species of nightjars in the world. Less than 10 occur in North America. Many of the common nighthawk’s relatives have been given descriptive names, such as long-trained nightjar, collared nightjar, spot-tailed nightjar, red-necked nightjar, golden nightjar, fiery-necked nightjar, swamp nightjar, pennant-winged nightjar, lyre-tailed nightjar, little nightjar, sickle-winged nightjar, rufous-bellied nighthawk, short-tailed nighthawk, sand-coloured nighthawk and least nighthawk.

Nighthawks can also appear almost magically, as if out of thin air. First, observers may see one of two birds, then several, followed quickly by dozens or sometimes hundreds as they wheel and cavort in the skies overhead with impressive grace and agility. I’ve seen flocks that would easily number more than 500 birds in locations throughout the region, although flocks often number only a couple of dozen birds.

So, keep your eyes gazing skyward. The next flock of migrating common nighthawks may fly over your home.

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To ask a question, make a comment or share a sighting, email Bryan Stevens at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com.

Photo by PublicDomainImages from Pixabay • The Kingsport Greenbelt offers one of the few locations in Northeast Tennessee to observe nesting yellow-crowned night herons. Rarities found in Kingsport have included harlequin duck and Virginia’s warbler.

Birding Kingsport is an organization dedicated to fostering an enthusiasm for birds and birding. It’s also one of three birding organizations located in Northeast Tennessee. Previous columns have highlighted birding groups based in Elizabethton and Bristol.

Betty Bailey is part of the leadership team that helms Birding Kingsport, also known as the Fred J. Alsop III Chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society. The organization was founded in 2015.

“Bill Grigsby was instrumental in the establishment of our club,” Bailey noted. “We strive to promote the public awareness of birds, nature and conservation issues through the study of birds primarily in the greater Kingsport area and through projects aimed to conserve bird populations.”

Bailey noted that one such project is the ongoing building and monitoring of nest boxes for Eastern bluebirds on the Kingsport Greenbelt.

She also pointed out that the Kingsport Birding Trail (KBT) was the first recognized birding trail in the state of Tennessee.

“Our linear park, the Kingsport Greenbelt, hosts six KBT locations,” she added.

“We make a concerted effort to participate in community events, like Warriors’ Path Spring Nature Festival and events at the Exchange Place,” she said.

“In addition to local bird walks to birding hot spots, we offer field trips to Roan Mountain, Seven Islands State Birding Park, Burke’s Garden, Phipps Bend, Laurel Run and other areas in our region,” Bailey said. “We count birds in Sullivan County in the spring for the Lee and Lois Herndon Chapter in Elizabethton.”

Instead of chapter officers, Birding Kingsport has chosen a leadership group to helm the organization.

“We felt this would be a better way to share the responsibilities of running the chapter and get more people involved with helping out with the tasks required,” Bailey said. “We have six members on the team.”

Bailey noted that Helen Sirrett served as club president for many years prior.

The chapter is also featured on the website tnbirds.org.

The public can like the group on Facebook at Birding Kingsport, a chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society. The chapter’s name — the Fred J. Alsop III Chapter of TOS — honors well-known local birder and retired East Tennessee State University biology professor Fred J. Alsop.

Bailey noted that Kingsport is also fortunate to have many different and varied habitats.

“This rich source of habitats allows many species to thrive,” she explained. “For example, over 130 species have been recorded on the Kingsport Greenbelt. A couple of our members and expert birders — Bambi Fincher and Sherrie Quillen — located a Virginia’s warbler near the Holston River on a very cold winter’s day.”

Although the chapter is the newest birding group in Northeast Tennessee, it is not lacking for distinctive accomplishments.

“We have conducted an Audubon Christmas Bird Count each year,” Bailey said.

Chapter members also conduct bird walks during Kingsport’s Fun Fest event each year to introduce people to birding and the importance of maintaining local habitats.

She also noted that the group has worked with the city of Kingsport to establish birding-related signage on the Kingsport Greenbelt with photographs by club member Belinda Bridwell.

Bailey also said that the chapter has hosted two state meetings for the Tennessee Ornithological Society with birders flocking to the Kingsport area from all parts of Tennessee.

Bailey sees many benefits that a birding group can provide to a novice birder or an experienced birder new to the area, including the sharing of information about local habitats, migration patterns that bring in different species to the area and how to better observe and identify birds in their natural habitats.

She also issued an invitation. “New and experienced birders can help with citizen science projects such as the Audubon Christmas Bird Count,” she said. “Experienced birders have the opportunity to share knowledge with other interested people and to increase public awareness of birding and conservation.”

For more information, email birdingkingsport@gmail.com.

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Bryan Stevens has written about birds and birding since 1995. Contact him at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com.

Photo by PublicDomainImages from Pixabay • A loggerhead shrike perches on a branch to survey its territory. These songbirds can be difficult to locate in the region, so it helps to know more experienced birders when seeking out the more uncommon species.

With three birding organizations in Northeast Tennessee, newcomers to the pastime have plenty of options when looking for affiliation with like-minded individuals.

Last week, I spotlighted the Elizabethton Bird Club. This week, I am putting the focus on the Bristol Bird Club. Next week, the column will feature Birding Kingsport.

Larry McDaniel, a former president of the Bristol Bird Club, endorses the importance of birding organizations for the beginning birder.

“Becoming a part of a local bird club such as the Bristol Bird Club is a great way for new and beginning birders to be able to be around experienced birders who love to help you learn about birding,” McDaniel said.

Membership in a local birding group can help newcomers to birding quickly learn where to find birds in the area, according to McDaniel.

Experienced birders are also accessible for such tasks as learning how to know the birds that people see in their own yards. A more experienced birder, McDaniel noted, can also share information on the many ways of learning how to identify different species.

“It is also a great way to meet new friends who share a common interest,” McDaniel added. “We offer many outings where you will get to be in the field with other birders. All of our outings are suitable for all levels, including kids.”

McDaniel noted that the lure of birds is a powerful draw for many people.

“Birding and bird watching have been a fascination for many people for a very long time,” he said. “It gets more and more popular as time goes on.”

McDaniel added that there’s something about birds that captivates human attention.

“Many are spectacular in appearance while others are quite cryptic, blending in with the habitat they are in,” he said. “Either way brings excitement to the watcher. Just seeing a gorgeous scarlet tanager can fill you with awe. Finding a singing red-eyed vireo that’s hiding in the thick foliage of a tall tree creates a satisfying sense of achievement.”

Photo Courtesy of Jean Potter
A male scarlet tanager brightens shadowy woodlands with a flash of tropical colors yet remains mostly inconspicuous in the forest canopy.

Bird behavior is also one reason for people to devote their time to observing birds.

“Hawks in flight, songbirds bringing food to their young or a heron hunting for a fish in shallow water are just a few examples of behaviors that draw our attention,” McDaniel said.

“It seems there is always something new to see and learn,” he added. “There is an old saying, ‘birding is a lifetime guarantee against boredom.’”

Michele Sparks, first vice president for the Bristol Bird Club, joined McDaniel in promoting the importance of membership in a birding group for people looking to expand their birding skills.

“By joining the Bristol Bird Club, a beginner birder would have many opportunities to meet experienced, friendly birders who not only have monthly meetings with guest speakers but take to the field to study birds on a regular basis,” Sparks said.

“We have scheduled field trips, and then there are individuals who meet weekly for the pleasure of birding,” she added. “New members are always welcome, but the connections you make are most important for new birders.” Sparks said many members want extra help finding birds in the area (commonly called hot spots), identifying birds and getting bird tips.

In addition, Sparks said, “The pleasure of being outdoors to study birds can connect with those members who routinely bird in the local areas.”

Sparks noted that the Bristol Bird Club maintains a Facebook page highlighting upcoming events such as the recent trip to Panhandle Road and a “Whips and Chucks Outing” held in early June to look and listen for nocturnal whip-poor-wills and chuck-will’s-widows.

Sparks noted that the Bristol Bird Club holds regularly scheduled monthly bird walks at Steele Creek Park in Bristol, Tennessee, usually the second Thursday of the month, as well as bird walks at Jacob’s Nature Center in Johnson City.

The Bristol Bird Club belongs to both the Tennessee Ornithological Society and Virginia Ornithological Society. The chapter’s name — the J. Wallace Coffey Chapter — honors the memory of the late J. Wallace Coffey, a longtime leader in the group.

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Bryan Stevens has been writing about birds and birding since 1995. To ask a question, make a comment or share a sighting, email him at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com.