Join us at Plum Creek to enjoy an evening of spotting Common Nighthawks as they migrate to South America. A nighthawk watch is as laid back as bird watching gets:

1. Sit in your lawn chair

2. Look up!

These fast-flying insect eaters are in the nightjar family (aka goatsuckers in the Old World, but that’s a story you’ll have to wait till the watch to hear) and will be way up in loose flocks. Like meteors, they may come from any direction, maybe because no matter where they breed in North America, they meet up in the Mississippi Flyway to cross the Gulf of Mexico on their way south.

The cul-de-sac at the end of Plum Creek Meadow’s parking lot has a big, gorgeous, wide-open view of the sky. Bring your lawn chair and eagle eyes to help us spot any nighthawks meeting up in the midwest as they leave until next May.

Green darner dragonflies could be migrating at the same time. That should make the nighthawks happy!

Plum Creek Forest Preserve is a LOT more than a meadow. It has a woodland, a grassland that’s an Audubon Important Bird Area and a wonderful diversity of birds. It needs stewardship, if you have love to share.

Capacity is limited and registration is required. The event will be canceled if there are high winds or rain. More information will be provided if/as needed prior to the event.

Location: Burnham Avenue north of 223rd St. in southeast Cook County, between Sauk Village, IL and Dyer, IN

Meeting Spot: Meet at the end of the Plum Creek Meadow parking lot.

Trip Leaders: Matt Igleski and Mary Bernat

Photo Credit: Common nighthawk by Mark Hainen

Questions? Reach out to Mary Bernat at mbernat@fastmail.com.