Date: Thu, 15 May 2003 10:19:39 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: "Speicher, James (NIH/NIAID)" Subject: Nighthawks MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Jason Waanders wrote: At least three Common Nighthawks were flying over RFK Stadium last night around 10:30, lit from below by the stadium lights. ****** Many years ago i happened to be camping at Dolly Sods (WVA) either in late May or early June. The "SODS" at 4,000 ft elev and with vegetation ravaged in the extreme (from pre-European settlement times) has the appearance of an arctic habitat. I was astonished one evening to witness Nighthawks give their courtship (?) display which consisted of level flying followed by steep dives which was accompanied by a booming sound - thus their nickname "boombats". It was an experience not to be forgotten! Jim Speicher jspeicher@niaid.nih.gov Bethesda @work:( FRED Co @home:) ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================