The Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) is a cryptic, nocturnal, aerial insectivore whose populations, behaviors, and habitat needs are relatively poorly known (R. Brady 2009 Wisconsin Nightjar Survey). The Common Nighthawk (CONI) was recently (June 1, 2011) added to the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Working List with a state rank of S2S3B ( This project seeks to determine abundance of CONI within Wisconsin’s borders, and lead to enhanced methods for a more robust, long-term monitoring protocol. Project Nighthawk Noel Cutright and William Mueller The Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory Belgium, WI – WGLBBO Online at: wglbbo.org Introduction Methods Results Abstract Results ReferencesAcknowledgements We would like to acknowledge the many citizen observers who provided observation data for Project Nighthawk during the summer of During the summer 2012 breeding season, we asked cooperators to submit records of Common Nighthawk observations from anywhere in Wisconsin. See a map below detailing the statewide distribution of records. Not all volunteer observer records have been received as of Data submitted through WI eBird as well as via other methods of electronic submission was accepted. Project Nighthawk is ongoing. A Geographic Information System spatial analysis of all observation records from 2012 will be mapped using satellite derived landcover layers for WI, with a focus on the concentration of records within urban areas. CONI is thought to be declining based on anecdotal accounts and limited survey information. For example, the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) inadequately monitors the species because of its crepuscular habits; BBS results for Wisconsin ( bin/atlasa10.pl?04200&1&10) indicate a 1.7% annual decline long-term ( ) and 1.4% short-term ( ). The Wisconsin Checklist Project data also show a slow but steady, significant decrease from the early 1980s through 2012 (R. Rolley Wisconsin Checklist Project). CONI is widely distributed in Wisconsin and inhabits both native habitats and those more closely associated with humans. CONI was Confirmed in 3% and Probable in 9% of 1,132 quads during the six years of field work during the Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas (Atlas) project, with approximately half of the probable and confirmed breeding records from priority blocks from urban, rural residential, or agricultural habitats (N. J. Cutright et al WSO). In urban settings, CONI uses flat rooftops for nesting and the vast airspaces above for foraging. The remaining Atlas records were from native habitats. number of indivlocation namecoordinatescountydate in 2012observer(s) 1 Staffon Rd. & Kirck Rd , Jackson6/1/2012Doug Stratton 2Appleton , Outagamie6/2/12Karen Straub 1Greenfield Park , Milwaukee6/2/12Sarah Stokes 3 Staffon Rd. & Kirck Rd , Jackson6/2/12Scott Puchalski 1 Kettle Moraine State Forest ; Young Rd , Walworth6/2/12Quentin Yoerger 2Alderwood , Monroe6/3/12Ben Carlson 1Boscobel , Grant6/5/12Paul Schilke 2Sun Prairie , Dane6/5/12Ted Keyel 1 Belden Marshbird PSU , Douglas6/6/12Ryan Brady 1Greenfield Park , Milwaukee6/6/12Sarah Stokes 1 Staffon Rd. & Kirck Rd , Jackson6/6/12Andy Paulios x Sarocka Park - Rhinelander , Oneida6/7/12Vanessa Haese-Lehman 1S 45 St near Scott St , Milwaukee6/7/12Bill Mueller 2near Pembine , Marinette6/9/12Jack Swelstad 1 Marshfield, Circle Dr , Wood6/12/12Andy Paulios, Tom Prestby 1 Solon Springs , Douglas6/12/12Paul Hayes 1 Kohler , Sheboygan6/13/12Davor Grgic 2Greenfield Park , Milwaukee6/18/12Sarah Stokes 2Fox River Mall , Winnebago6/19/12Paul Bruce 1near Pembine , Marinette6/20/12Jack Swelstad 1Union TWP BBS , Burnett6/22/12Andy Paulios 2Elver Park , Dane6/22/12Kyle Lindemer 1Wyalusing State Park , Grant6/22/12Cynthia Bridge 2Greenfield Park , Milwaukee6/24/12Sarah Stokes 3Dawson Field , Rock6/25/12Joshua Cullum 2Greenfield Park , Milwaukee6/25/12Sarah Stokes 3Bark River Nature Park , Jefferson6/26/12Cynthia Bridge 2Greenfield Park , Milwaukee6/26/12Sarah Stokes 1Jackson Park , Milwaukee6/26/12Bill Mueller 1LaCrosse , LaCrosse6/26/12Mary Strasser 2 Kirch, Bartos, and Staffon Rds , Jackson6/26/12Rob Pendergast 1Greenfield Park , Milwaukee6/27/12Sarah Stokes 1La Riviere Park , Crawford6/28/12Dennis Kirschbaum 7Cemetery Road , Jackson6/29/12Scott Meyer xWeyauwega , Waupaca6/29/12Chuck Petters 2Grafton , OzaukeeJune - JulyJeff Baughman 1Bukolt Park , Portage7/1/12Joe Schaufenbuel 2Appleton , Outagamie7/2/12Karen Straub 1Wyalusing State Park , Grant7/2/12Cynthia Bridge 14Grant Park , Milwaukee7/2/12David Flores 10Lake Park , Milwaukee7/2/12Thora Vervoren 1Fond du Lac, Forest Mall , Fond du Lac7/3/12Alia Durfee, Sam Krerowicz 2near Pembine , Marinette7/6/12Jack Swelstad 1Greenfield Park , Milwaukee7/8/12Sarah Stokes 1Dawson Field , Rock7/9/12Joshua Cullum 1Monterey Park , Rock7/9/12Joshua Cullum 1Schmeeekle Reserve , Portage7/10/12Elizabeth Riley 1Wiegels , LaCrosse7/13/12Gary Wiegel 2Appleton , Outagamie7/14/12Karen Straub 1Villa Louis , Crawford7/14/12Dennis Kirschbaum 1Bear Bottoms , Florence7/15/12Bob and Kay Kavanaugh 1S 45 St near Scott St , Milwaukee7/17/12Bill Mueller 1Bear Bottoms , Florence7/20/12Bob and Kay Kavanaugh 2Dane Co Regional Airport , Dane7/20/12Kyle Lindemer 3West Milwaukee Park , Milwaukee7/20/12Tim Hahn 1Madison , Dane7/22/12Kyle Lindemer 1Delta Lake Cabin , Bayfield7/26/12Richard Ouren 2BRSF , Jackson7/28/12Dave & Margaret Brasser 2Horicon Marsh , Dodge7/29/12Richard Norton 1Appleton , Outagamie7/28/12Karen Straub Photo by D. Berganza; Wikimedia Commons Photo by M. Manske; Wikimedia Commons Brady, R Wisconsin nightjar survey – overview. [Online: Accessed ]. Cutright, N. J., B. R. Harriman, and R. W. Howe Atlas of the breeding birds of Wisconsin. Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, Inc. Waukesha, WI. Rolley, R The Wisconsin Checklist Project Passenger Pigeon 74(1): Sauer, J. R., J. E. Hines, J. E. Fallon, K. L. Pardieck, D. J. Ziolkowski, Jr., and W. A. Link The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis Version USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MDUSGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Table 1: 2012 Summer Observations WI BBS results Common Nighthawk USGS Breeding Bird Survey WI Breeding Bird Atlas map for CONI –