Nature Talks: The Common Nighthawk in the Purcells Cove Backlands

During the October Nature Talks, Nature Nova Scotia was delighted to have two Dalhousie Students present on the Common Nighthawk. In collaboration with the Staicer Lab, Worm Lab, and the Backlands Coalition, Madeleine Kurtz and Siobhan Herold dedicated their honours thesis to studying the fascinating Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) and its insect prey. This elusive bird, often active at dusk and dawn, is known for its aerial acrobatics and a distinctive "peent" call. Their research focused on the spatial distribution and critical habitat of a nighthawk population in the Purcells Cove Backlands, aiming to better understand where these migratory birds breed and forage.