[Birdtalk] Common Poorwill

[Joseph]

I love exploring the data on ebird.org

I noticed that there is a bird that I see on a regular
basis, that hardly ever gets reported on eBird. That 
is the Common Poorwill. Since they are so common
to me I didn't realize that they are so rarely reported 
by others.

I figure that they have already migrated for the
year, or will by the time it snows this week in
the mountains... But I'll describe where I see them
in case anyone wants to look for them next year.
If I am still around next year I'll post when and
where I see them (if the location is
reachable fairly reasonably by car...)

My lifestyle often finds me out in the mountains
just as it is getting dark or shortly after.
Whenever I have seen common poorwills it is 
at dusk or shortly after dark, sitting on a dirt
road, sometimes glowing red eyes are
visible long before the shape of the bird is. 
Clay or Dust roads are preferred 9:1 over 
gravel or rock roads. They are often very reluctant
to fly away just because a vehicle is
approching. 

I have never seen them in a wooded area, or
on a paved road. 10 mph roads seem preferred
over 25 mph roads.

Grasslands or mountain wildflower meadows are 
preferred over heavy sagebrush.

Most often I've seen them at the elevation
where aspen trees grow.