On April 29, I presented my work on Whip-poor-wills at the monthly meeting of Denver Field Ornithologists, a local birding and conservation organization. I was grateful for the opportunity to speak with DFO’s members, as I’m an (irregular) volunteer with the organization, writing essays for their newsletter and occasionally leading field trips.
The timing was auspicious. The moon was a few days past fullness, and Colorado’s earliest nightjar, the Common Poorwill, had returned. Indeed, the next morning, I’d go hear one sing.
The presentation is a bit of a preview of the book that I’m writing on Whip-poor-wills for NYU Press. I offer some background on the species, tell some of the stories of the “first Whip-poor-will,” and discuss some of the consequences of species decline.
As I told DFO, the book’s half drafted (roughly), which is different from saying it’s half done. So no doubt, the things I say here will evolve over the next several months.
Featured Whip-poor-will illustration found at the British Library’s Sound and Vision Blog. Originally from Field Book of Wild Birds and their Music, 1921 (courtesy of the Biodiversity Heritage Library)
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