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Daily Bucket - Recording NightJars (what not to do) [1]

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Date: 2025-05-24

Saturday morning (pre-dawn) filled me with excitement as I unwittingly drove into a breeding cluster of Chuck-will-Widows I was headed toward the Wildlife Refuge when I met the diversion. Driving with the windows lowered has helped in locating birds, but the volume of calls and songs that morning was as intense as a Zoo enclosure at feeding time. I stopped immediately and shut off the engine to relish the cacophony.

The first video lets you hear the closest sounds to enter the truck cab. I figured there were three males and at least two females nearby. Since my camera will not record video in low light, the screen is black but the volume was increased in editing for you to hear the subtle sounds.

20 second video



Thus, begin my mistakes in recording NightJars. Error 1 Don’t breathe too close to the microphone. Remote audio recording devices are better for some circumstances. Error 2 Don’t attempt to record video in darkness if your device isn’t an infra-red enhanced product.

I waited until the morning light improved to get the next video. The camera allowed me to compensate for the exposure but would not focus on the subjects clearly (error 3 of the day).

8 second video

Therefore, my morning attempt was fraught with errors. Editing could not fix any of the three problems. I decided to return in the evening and try when the Chuck-will-Widow rose to a nocturnal pitch of hormonal energy. Dusk crept sluggishly across the “Sprung forward” (daylight savings) sky. The birds arrived just as every “Yahoo” in a “pick-em-up” King-cab 4X4 drove by my parked vehicle. Each Good Samaritan stopped to see if I needed help. Riding back roads is as good a having somewhere to be for some people. I explained to one (overly excitable) boy about my quest. He suggested I get a spotlight (like many big game poachers have) and produced his own version of a portable flood lamp. He shined it toward the tree where the birds were singing. Here is an attempted photo from that encounter (as is the title photo). Error #4. Birds hate this All the birds scattered and my foray was over. I packed up and decided Sunday morning might provide me a righteous photo (by the Grace of God). I arrived early (during the indigo spectrum of dawn’s glow) and parked several hundred feet away from my target tree. I carried my stool, camera and backpack forward. I found error 5 quickly when the meager amount of insect repellent failed my needs. I dosed again after I settled. The birds resumed their activities after a brief time and the Sun climbed the rim of the far horizon. Error 6 The infrared range finder (auto-focus feature) on the camera will disperse birds in low light. I tried focusing on the tree and waiting for a bird to land. Error 7 Don’t get in a hurry. Blur of premature focus The amorous birds didn’t take long to resume courting. I was able to get better results with each new attempt. Here are those results. Error #8 clouds are not always your friends Error 9 Don’t rely on post editing by assuming you have good results in the field. A fine silhouette of a female Chuck-will-Widow The birds started to flee the scene as the Sun breached the far tree tops. I missed my opportunity. Redemption occurred when I saw two birds descend nearby. I had found a potential nest site. I will give these birds time to establish a nest before I approach for another photo attempt. I hope I don’t make too many mistakes then. I also hope to emulate Clickadee’s shot of a Chuck-will-Widow roosting. The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns. We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below. Each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the phenological patterns that are quietly unwinding around us. To have the Daily Bucket in your Activity Stream,visit Backyard Science’s profile page and click on follow. My Bug of the Day is odd looking but commonly found around homes in the early Summer. Camel Crickets (aka Hump-backed Crickets) — Rhaphidophoridae family, don’t have wings or organs that create the “chirping” of other crickets. They live in dark, damp places and feast of decaying material. They make excellent Largemouth Bass bait.

Please treat this as an open thread and include your own comments, photos and findings from the great outdoors.

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