Nighthawks - Chaffee

[Hugh Kingery]

Further to the discussion of Common NIghthawks, Peggy Gonder and we had a magical experience Sunday evening, after our CFO trip. Following directions from Meredith Anderson, we drove up CR 107/108, south of the Salida Gateway Inn that served as headquarters for the CFO convention. The road leads to a good long, stretch of pinyon pines (on both sides of the road).

First we watched several contingents of Pinyon Jays fly up, perch, fly up, etc. Probably 100 in all. Their distinctive wails and other calls kept us watching. They flew up in groups of 20-40 birds; a Red-tailed Hawk flying over disturbed them particularly. Then we listened to an evening serenade by a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher; he continued for 15 minutes at least without stopping.

Then out came Common Nighthawks -- soaring above, calling their scratchy sound, diving down with their "booms," and cruising over us. We we saw 3-5, possibly more. We watched them for 10 minutes as we strolled back to the car.

All the while, we watched the sun slowly set over Mt. Shavano & the Sawatch mountains north of it. A memorable way to end the convention.

Hugh & Urling Kingery