Living in the third largest city in America sometimes make me feel like I am losing touch with nature. Sure from time to time I will travel to our countries great National Parks and State Forests to rekindle the flame with my first love but I always end up back into the daily urban grind. Nature never lets me forget her though. Every once in a while she will send me a subtle reminder of why I love her and what makes her so beautiful. A message that almost seems personal because in the fast paced city life no one else really seems to take notice. Tonight was such an instance. As darkness fell on a beautiful spring day I settled into my couch and flipped back and forth between the NBA Playoffs and Law & Order SVU when I heard a beautiful call coming from the dark alley. It echoed off the two brick apartment building walls like they were the sides of a canyon. At first I thought it was too loud to be a bird and that it was probably someone using a bird whistle which are common souvenirs from Latin America. But my inner child always curious with nature and wildlife beckoned me to the window. The call continued but I couldn’t see anyone in the alley. Just the dumpsters and parked cars remaining motionless. Silence, yet I still waited and listened and watch from my window. Then a blur of feathers flew right past my window and did a quick 180 for another fly by before disappearing into the night. What was it? I had to know. I had a hunch but needed to check my Audubon phone app to be sure. I typed in Whip and searched. It was too dark to get a visual identification so I went to Voice and played “song #1 (eastern) VA” and sure enough the beautiful night call belonged to a Whip-poor-will. I had never heard its call before and never expected to hear it in a alley in Lincoln Park, Chicago! It’s hard to believe a bird with this beautiful of a call was once suspected of witchery and called a “Goatsucker”. I guess if you see ones eyes of deep ruby red in the headlights like I did in Costa Rica you might believe. Now I can see why songs have been written about this bird! Here are two of my favorites.
Magnolia Electric Co “Whip Poor Will”
RIP Jason Molina
Doug Burr “Whippoorwill” Live 2008
To hear the Whip-poor-will call click on its picture. Now get out there and enjoy NATURE!!!
drinkplentyofwater 