Nocturnal Killdeer???
Hedi E Casquilho-gray
I were in the backyard moving someting into the house and we heard a
Killdeer. My first question is: have killdeers really returned so early?
(we're still experiencing winter.) My second question is why was it in
the middle of town calling when it was pitch black outside? Are there
any nocturnal birds which might be in Montana at this time of year that
sound like a killdeer?
Irene Timossi
Kildeers are commonly active at night. I used to ride my bike home from
a job I had on the UC Santa Barbara campus at 10 PM and I often heard
Kildeer on my way home.
Irene Timossi
San Rafael
Naila F Moreira
I think I heard one last night, too (but I live in N.H.). My experience with
killdeer is that they will call whenever they are alarmed -- possibly these
"night killdeer" have been startled from their roost. Killdeer spend the
majority of their time on flat grassy ground, so it's not unlikely that
something flushed them. Maybe you did while moving your stuff.
Naila
Peter Johnson
HEC> My first question is: have killdeers really returned so early?
HEC> (we're still experiencing winter.) My second question is why was it in
HEC> the middle of town calling when it was pitch black outside?
It was probably not calling from in town but above town. This birds
voice is often difficult to pin point.
HEC > Are there
HEC> any nocturnal birds which might be in Montana at this time of year that
HEC> sound like a killdeer?
Hi Hedi. Your bird was probably a Killdeer for I live North of you in
Eastern Ontario and some returned here three days ago. Even if you're
experiencing winter weather, there has been a general warming trend through
most of our area which has brought many of these birds back. Besides that, it
really isn't that early for them to be returning, for they usually return in
the latter half of March.
I don't know of any other bird's song that can be mistaken for that of the
Killdeer for their call is quite distinct. From what I gather they often call
by night. A friend of mine in the area heard one calling last night at 8:32
pm. He's on this conference too, maybe he'd be more qualified to answer that
question.
Hope that helps.
- MARC -
Terry Sprague
Casquilho-gray:
>HEC > Are there
> HEC> any nocturnal birds which might be in Montana at this time of year that
> HEC> sound like a killdeer?
PJ> Hi Hedi. Your bird was probably a
PJ> Killdeer for I live North of you in
PJ> Eastern Ontario and some returned here three days ago. Even if you're
PJ> experiencing winter weather, there has
PJ> been a general warming trend through
PJ> most of our area which has brought many
PJ> of these birds back. Besides that, it
PJ> really isn't that early for them to be
PJ> returning, for they usually return in
PJ> the latter half of March.
PJ> I don't know of any other bird's
PJ> song that can be mistaken for that of
PJ> the Killdeer for their call is quite
PJ> distinct. From what I gather they often
PJ> call by night. A friend of mine in the
PJ> area heard one calling last night at
PJ> 8:32 pm. He's on this conference too,
PJ> maybe he'd be more qualified to answer
PJ> that question.
PJ> Hope that helps.
PJ> - MARC -
Hi Marc and Hedi -
Actually Marc, I am not that precise with my bird sightings that I contact
the Dominion Observatory for the correct time! (8:32 p.m.!) But it was around
8:30 for sure.
Like Marc I can't imagine what else might be confused with a killdeer, and
they seem to be pretty regular in their return around here regardless of any
snow that might be here, or might arrive later. They're pretty hardy.
Killdeers for reasons still unclear to me seemingly never sleep and often
call at any hour of the night. I'm not sure why this is and I believe this
question has been posted in this conference before.
We have meadowlarks here in Ontario now and if this nice weather keeps up
- which it likely won't - I fully expect to see tree swallows soon.
Face it - spring is coming!
- Terry
Ignaz Wanders
Sprague) wrote:
> We have meadowlarks here in Ontario now and if this nice weather keeps up
> - which it likely won't - I fully expect to see tree swallows soon.
I saw the first one past Sunday, March 12, in Ottawa NWR, Ohio, on the
southern shore of Lake erie. Lots of meadowlarks too.
> Face it - spring is coming!
yeah!
> - Terry
Ignaz
Gary Griffith
that are just like the pink Energizer bunny. They just keep going and
going and going and going and going and going and going and going and
going and going and going and going and going and going...................
...............
Regards,
Gary
James Clarke
: In [(INT) REC.BIRDS] on <15 Mar 95 17:07>, Hedi E Casquilho-gray wrote to All:
: Hope that helps.
:
You know, that is funny. Last night we had two portents of springtime here in
Longmont CO. One, we had a moderate rain shower and secondly, I heard a killdeer
call in the full moon...
Chris Clarke
Ric Pedler
Good Morning,
When I've visited Whitefish Point, MI., during spring migration
season and been looking for owls, the kildeer seem to be active all night.
Why, I don't know, but what you and your husband heard that night probably
were just what they sounded like -- kildeer!
Melanie Ball
: I live in Missoula, Montana. Last night at about 9:00 PM my husband and
*** Yes, they are back already, I heard and saw my first one yesterday
(3/17) here near Fargo, ND. Until they all get settled down later in
spring, killdeer don't seem to care what the neighbors think, they are
partying into the night! Or so it seems.
Frank
Matthew S. Rowley
White Dog
days. They called at night too. Who could sleep in that cold? Anyway,
we didn't see them for a couple of months, but they're back here now too.
Custer J. Winston
>From: whit...@aol.com (White Dog)
>Subject: Re: Nocturnal Killdeer???
>Date: 22 Mar 1995 23:32:43 -0500
>Here in northern Ohio we had Killdeer at 5 below in December for several
>days. They called at night too. Who could sleep in that cold? Anyway,
>we didn't see them for a couple of months, but they're back here now too.
Here in Southern California we usually get them in the spring. They tend to
hang out on big grassy fields. When I was going to collage I'd hear them
going DEE DEE dee at all times of the night. I think they do that when
something or someone disturbs them. But if you try to sleep in the middle of
a big open field in suburbia, I guess you get disturbed a lot.
Gord Gallant
already as well. It's a bit early but not unusual. I suspect - from
experience that Killdeer call while migrating at night - especially just
after dark. If you go out in the evenings from here on through the
spring - you will hear some types of birds chirping. In a few weeks you
will start to hear the night migration in full strength. It just
requires some patience and a quiet spot. Good luck and happy birding!
-
GORD GALLANT PQK...@prodigy.com
chell...@gmail.com
songbird
> I watched two running around the Wal-Mart parking lot late at night. They would also stop by people and their cars and would barely move as people got out of their vehicles. I thought there was something wrong with the killdear by their behavior. This was in July.
used to people or are raised around them.
we have some that nest here each year and
they can be calm and sit on their nests
with me a few feet away if i don't move
fast or do things they are used to.
my guess is that the bright lights
give them enough light to forage for bugs,
etc.
songbird