Whip-poor-will Presque Isle State Park, PA

[Donkees]

Dave Inman

Eastern Whip-poor-will, which is named for its call, is harder to hear these days: The nocturnal birds are experiencing steep declines in parts of their North American range.

The main problem Whip-poor-wills face is the loss of forests with open understories, which can result from conversion to crops or pasture; urbanization: or fire suppression, which can lead to dense understories.

Recorded at Bear Hollow Mountain WMA, Franklin County, Tennessee

[padah513]

1. I hear that song most mornings but haven't heard it lately

[littlemissmartypants]

2. It's been ages since I've heard one and it used to be a nightly occurrence.

I have made a point of creating and maintaining as much bird habitat as possible here on the farm. I used to regularly hear woodpeckers and owls. Not so much anymore.

I'm going to double up on my wild bird seed locations and this spring get serious about my humming bird feeders again. I did put a concrete birdbath in the front yard under one of my dogwoods.

I also just noticed that something had pulled out all of the nesting from my bluebird house. I need more of those houses. I bought the one I have on the roadside from a guy with a pickup truck full of them that he had made himself. I wish I had found out more about his enterprise so I could buy more.

I'm also going to get out my bird caller and see if I can get some response. Maybe I need to work more on my bird friendship building.

I'm open to any suggestions if members of the group are so inclined. Thanks for sharing this, Donkees.

❤️pants

[Lasher]

4. My guess is, a raccoon pulled out all the bluebird nesting.

They do that to get the eggs and young. Maybe you should set up that bird box so that they can't get at it.

[littlemissmartypants]

6. I was wondering if it could be the mockingbird that thinks s/he owns the place.

It's constantly chattering and attacking its reflection in my side view mirrors.

[Donkees]

7. I haven't heard a Whip-poor-will since childhood, and it is difficult to maintain a healthy habitat

when surrounded by neighbors who ''fog pesticides'' and use lawn chemicals. The bird population seems to be about 25% of what it was even a decade ago. Still, I maintain about a dozen feeders and about 6-10 hummingbird feeders during peak feeding season. I used to hear owls up until last year, before the old rotting trees nearby were removed.

I know there are predator guards/caps for Bluebird house openings, which might help you. I'm sure the birds will appreciate your labor of love

[cyclonefence]

3. Magic

I used to hear this at night in S. WV.

Another iconic bird call--"cuckoo"--is heard and shown on the PBS series "The Burrens" episode two. That one I don't think I'd ever heard before.

[2naSalit]

5. Used to hear them...

On summer nights on Cape Cod. It was the song of the night, I kind of miss that.