Date:         Wed, 5 Sep 2001 22:05:56 -0400
Reply-To:     "Thomas A. Striker" <tstriker@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender:       Georgia Birders Online <GABO-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         "Thomas A. Striker" <tstriker@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      Re: ID
Comments: To: John Champion <jchampion@MINDSPRING.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

John - these were probably Common Nighthawks.  They have been migrating in small to medium-sized groups for the last few weeks.  I've seen several groups in the early evening lately over Dunwoody, and saw a few tonite.

The most dramatic Nighthawk migration I've ever seen was in the mid 70's along the north shore of Lake Superior, along Highway 1 which follows the shoreline.  An evening drive in late August was made very special by the appearance
of thousands of nighthawks, singly and in groups of up to 50, moving gracefully southwestward along the lake, and right over the highway.

I used to see nighthawks in town in Illinois and Wisconsin, on feeding flights every evening.  Here in Atlanta, I see them only in the spring and fall, and look forward to the fall migration.

Tom Striker
Dunwoody, GA
tstriker@bellsouth.net

John Champion wrote:

> I need some help id'ing some birds.
>
> Tonight....before heading into church about 7pm....looked up and saw 100-200 md sized birds flocked together and milling about. Against the sky..they looked dark...the most identifying mark was a whitish line near the wing tip.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> John Champion
> Snellville, GA (Gwinnett Co.)