In the heart of Logan Square, on a warm evening this June, two enthusiasts, Tristan Kirvin and Sam Tymorek, were eager to catch a glimpse of the short-lived aerial displays of a local nighthawk named Connor.
As they craned their necks skyward, Tymorek humorously suggested, “I think I just saw him fly away.”
Connor, a common nighthawk, is emblematic of summer nights in Chicago.
These birds are known for their unique, buzzing calls and distinct flight patterns as they swoop through the urban landscape, foraging for insects midair with their mouths wide open.
However, the common nighthawk faces a troubling future across North America, primarily due to habitat loss and shrinking insect populations.
In Chicago, the local trends are still uncertain, as bird scientists lack sufficient data to draw clear conclusions about the nighthawk population.
To address this gap, the Chicago Nighthawk Project, a volunteer initiative, is gathering crucial data about these birds and their habitats in the city.
Every June, dedicated volunteers like Kirvin and Tymorek venture into parks and backyards, on the lookout for nighthawks to help scientists assess local population levels.
Preliminary findings from their surveys suggest that Chicago still hosts a healthy population of these birds, showing that at least some nighthawks have adapted to urban life.
Edward Warden, president of the Chicago Ornithological Society, which spearheads the project, emphasizes the limitations local conservationists face in tackling the challenges that nighthawks encounter.
Nevertheless, he remains optimistic that by understanding what constitutes ideal nighthawk habitats in Chicago, conservationists can foster thriving populations along Lake Michigan’s urban shoreline.
“There’s still a lot of room in this city where these birds can still find what they’re looking for,” Warden stated, highlighting his hope for the species’ future.
Common nighthawks belong to the nightjar family and are distantly related to birds such as whip-poor-wills.
Often referred to as “goatsuckers,” they received this name due to an old myth suggesting they would drink milk from goats, which is far from the truth.
In reality, these birds predominantly consume insects, and despite their peculiar dietary preferences, they exhibit unusual characteristics.
Nighthawks are crepuscular, meaning they are mostly active at dawn and dusk, and possess elongated, curved bodies, stout heads, and tiny beaks, which Kirvin likened to a “gravy boat with a cryptic smile.”
Having migrated from wintering grounds in South America, common nighthawks return to North America during summer to nest in grasslands and clearings.
The birds have responded to urban expansion in the U.S., having adapted to flat, gravel-covered rooftops, reminiscent of their preferred rocky nesting habitats—this trend has been observed as far back as the 19th century.
Despite their adaptability, common nighthawk populations have witnessed a steep decline in recent years.
A survey indicated that between 1966 and 2019, the nighthawk population in the United States plummeted by nearly 50 percent, largely due to habitat destruction, declines in insect availability, and a decrease in the prevalence of gravel rooftops in urban settings.
The Bird Conservation Network, a coalition of environmental organizations in the Chicago area, recently published a report assessing bird populations in the region over the past two decades; however, it failed to provide substantial data on nighthawks due to their crepuscular nature and the traditional timing of most bird surveys, which tend to occur in the early hours of the day.
For Warden, a Chicago native and passionate bird-watcher, his appreciation for birds waned during college years at the University of Chicago until the night he spotted nighthawks soaring over Woodlawn Avenue.
That encounter rekindled his fascination with birds and compelled him to delve deeper into the nighthawk’s mysteries.
“This revelation reinforced my interest and passion for birdwatching and conservation, a hobby I had somewhat drifted away from,” Warden recounted.
Over the years, he has dedicated himself to environmental protection, with nighthawks remaining a central focus of his commitment.
Upon seeing the lack of data regarding nighthawks in the Bird Conservation Network’s report, Warden felt a calling to take action and thus initiated the Chicago Nighthawk Project.
This grassroots effort began in 2022 and continues every summer.
Throughout June, volunteers embark on weekly excursions for three consecutive weeks to tally nighthawks.
Each participant follows a designated route, pausing at selected locations for five minutes at a time to observe and listen for nighthawks, documenting sightings.
Scott Judd, a volunteer from Rogers Park, commences his route at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, progressively moving to popular spots like Loyola Park and Warren Park.
During his first survey this summer, he joyfully reported spotting numerous nighthawks, even catching glimpses of them between stops in his car.
Judd noted that these birds have resided in the area long before the introduction of modern infrastructure.
“I think that is super interesting, and I like to raise awareness about that,” he said.
The opportunity to engage in scientific conservation motivated Judd to participate in the Chicago Nighthawk Project.
“I wanted to contribute if there’s any chance this project can aid in stabilizing or even increasing nighthawk numbers locally,” he expressed.
Meanwhile, Grace Palacio, another volunteer from Ravenswood, recently reported sightings of nighthawks in locations such as the Bowmanville Gateway Garden and West Ridge Nature Park.
Palacio also finds personal enjoyment in participating in the surveys, emphasizing the beauty of spending summer nights outdoors.
For Kirvin and Tymorek, the bond they have formed with Connor and another local nighthawk named Reese has deepened their appreciation for the species.
Both nighthawks earned their names after characters from the “The Terminator” series, an amusing connection given the unique nature of these birds.
Kirvin, who contributes to Chicago Bird Collision Monitors—a group that aids birds that collide with buildings—joined the nighthawk project with Tymorek for some leisure and fun together.
“I was a little slow to catch on to how cool they were,” Tymorek admitted.
Yet after learning more about common nighthawks, he grew to appreciate their quirky nature, particularly their distinctive buzzing calls, stating that they are “amazing and so weird.”
The Chicago Nighthawk Project has garnered around 60 to 70 volunteers, who are beginning to unveil intriguing trends about the nighthawk population.
Initial observations indicate that neighborhoods such as Logan Square, Humboldt Park, and Rogers Park on the North Side, in addition to the Calumet-Deering-Hegewisch area in the southeast, appear to support thriving nighthawk communities.
In contrast, districts like Lincoln Park and the Near North Side seem to host fewer nighthawks, and some neighborhoods, including Austin, Bridgeport, McKinley Park, West Lawn, and Marquette Park, are lacking sufficient data.
According to Warden, nighthawks may prefer areas that strike a balance between urban development and open space rather than overly built or sparsely populated locations.
“This ‘sweet spot’ in typical Chicago neighborhoods—characterized by two- and three-flat apartment buildings mixed with single-family homes—often yields the best habitat for nighthawks,” he explained.
Mason Fidino, an ecologist at the Lincoln Park Zoo, is collaborating with the project to analyze the collected data for specific habitat factors, such as tree cover and housing density that correlate with nighthawk presence.
He aims to explore whether the existence of gravel rooftops within a neighborhood influences nighthawk populations.
Though the data may be challenging to obtain, Fidino plans to investigate the prevalence of flat rooftops across the city.
Despite the prospects for nighthawks in an urban environment, there are some challenges they face.
Chicago boasts a substantial population of peregrine falcons, which are known to prey on nighthawks.
Additionally, urban areas can experience extreme heat, which poses a threat, as cities tend to be warmer than their rural counterparts.
Warden recalls hearing from older birdwatchers about the more abundant nighthawk population in Chicago in years past.
Even non-birdwatchers can often recount memories of nighthawks from their childhood, he noted.
“This suggests that these birds were once prevalent in the city, such that even individuals who weren’t deliberately observing them could encounter them,” Warden commented.
With the Chicago Nighthawk Project progressing, there is hope that urban environments can once again become a suitable haven for these birds.
As Warden proposed, the group will continue working to identify conservation actions that may benefit the species.
He encouraged community members to consider placing gravel in their yards or planting native vegetation to attract the insects that nighthawks rely on for food.
Interestingly, common nighthawks may surprise urban dwellers in their own unique ways.
Warden shared an anecdote about attending a White Sox night game; as the stadium lights illuminate the field and attract insects, nighthawks come out to hunt those insects overhead.
“Thousands of people, cheering in excitement, eating hot dogs, and enjoying the game—meanwhile, those birds are simply up above, living their lives alongside us,” he remarked.
This harmony between nature and urban life exemplifies the spirit of the Chicago Nighthawk Project, a testament to the collective efforts of volunteers who hope to preserve the vibrancy of common nighthawks in their city.
image source from：blockclubchicago
