Help Track Elusive Nighthawks In Montana This Summer

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and Montana Audubon are calling on volunteers to help track common nighthawks across the state this summer. Citizens willing to participate in surveys can play a key role in gathering data on these elusive birds, which are among Montana’s species of greatest conservation concern.

Common nighthawks, along with the closely related common poorwill, are migratory nightjars that spend summers in Montana’s grasslands, shrublands, and open spaces. Both species are considered difficult to study, and agencies lack reliable baseline data. While this year’s survey effort focuses primarily on nighthawks, incidental sightings of poorwills are also welcome and will contribute valuable information.

Volunteers can expand the reach of these surveys, helping wildlife managers better understand population trends and habitat needs. To support citizen scientists, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and Montana Audubon offered in-person training sessions across several communities this spring and have made an online training video available. The video, which takes less than an hour to complete, is a prerequisite for conducting surveys.

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Interest in volunteering has been strong in western Montana, but opportunities remain open in north-central, south-central, and eastern parts of the state. Those interested can sign up for a survey route, access the online training, and find more information at montanabirdsurveys.weebly.com/nightjar-training.html.