Date: 6/10/25 11:10 am From: Kurt Weiskotten (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: RE: Chuck-will's-widow Video
In Harrison’s Field Guide to Bird Nests, he does mention the Pileated egg relocation linked below, and he also says this about Chuck-will’s-widow:
“Nest- none, two eggs laid on ground on dead leaves on succeeding days. Incubation by both sexes for 20 days. Audubon’s tale of a disturbed Chuck-will’s-widow carrying eggs in mouth to new location is doubted by reputable ornithologists. Although transfer not observed, there have been instances where clutches of eggs were found moved several feet from original nest site” (Perhaps due to eggs on flat dead leaf substrate, and the birds coming and going with rapid wing beats?)
Ahhh … good ole’ Harrison – one of my favorite books! Granted this is from 1975 – so maybe there has been move observation of egg movement behavior since then?
From: <carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...> On Behalf Of Michael Fogleman
Sent: Monday, June 9, 2025 8:27 PM
To: Christopher Hill <chill...>
Cc: Kevin Kubach <kmkubach...>; Juanita Roushdy <juanitar...>; Carolinabirds <carolinabirds...>
Subject: Re: Chuck-will's-widow Video
Answering my own question about Pileated Woodpeckers relocating eggs:
The snag broke right at the nest cavity, exposing the nest to the sky, and so the adults relocated the eggs! Wow!
Michael
On Mon, Jun 9, 2025 at 8:18 PM Michael Fogleman <fogleman...><mailto:<fogleman...>> wrote:
I've read about the egg-moving behavior which is very interesting! I haven't seen any long-distance movements with either nest, only gradual changes from day to day, presumably from regular activities.
For the female that I first found incubating, she has never flushed no matter how close I get - even a week after the eggs hatched. Of course, I'm being very careful around her, but I'm still surprised at how confident she is in relying on her camouflage.
For the other nesting pair, I only found the female and chicks _because_ she flushed when I walked nearby - perhaps 20-30 feet away. But, her nestlings were already rather developed and well-camouflaged themselves (better camouflaged than mom, really, I was worried about accidentally stepping on one and had to use the thermal scope to relocate them even though they were right in front of me), so the timing might mean it makes more sense for her to put effort into distracting a potential predator. Or she's just a more flighty individual. Her flushing makes it harder to get natural footage, so I mostly left them alone.
Speaking of Birds of the World, it says this of Chucks:
"Not known to cast pellets, but probable due to close taxonomic relationship of Caprimulgiformes to Strigiformes (Sibley et al. 1988) and variability in this species' diet."
I found this very interesting, because I got a video of a nestling casting a pellet! I've already reached out to someone who studies Chucks to see if anything I've recorded might be of scientific interest.
P.S. a Pileated Woodpecker moving eggs sounds wild! I wonder why though - a snake approaching?
Michael Fogleman
Cary, NC
On Mon, Jun 9, 2025 at 5:49 PM Christopher Hill <chill...><mailto:<chill...>> wrote:
Yes, great footage (even if I skipped around and didn't watch the whole thing).
Whips found/disturbed while incubating eggs may move the nest by picking up the eggs in their (giant) mouths and flying them to a new spot, which also seems remarkable. Since they basically nest on the bare ground, it's not such a big deal to find a new spot and they will do that. I have experienced this a couple years ago: flushed a whip off a nest mid-morning, saw the egg or eggs (I don't remember if it was one or two). Passed that spot 20 minutes later and the egg(s) was/were gone.
Now that I've said that I went and read the Birds of the World account and it more or less confirms what I said but says "probably rarely carried in the mouth or between the legs." I'm not digging further into the literature but I'm betting strongly on the mouth and against the feet/legs idea. I've seen photos of both ducks and pileated woodpeckers moving eggs in their mouth in flight. "Between the legs" does not sound right to me at all.
Chris Hill, Ph.D.
Professor
Biology Department
Coastal Carolina University
Office: Douglas 207H
(843) 349-2567
email: <chill...><mailto:<chill...>
That is incredible footage! What a treat. Thanks for all your effort to research, document and share this. About a month ago, I accidentally flushed an adult Whip-poor-will in Fant's Grove WMA (Anderson Co., SC) and realized I was standing a few
Warning: Unusual link
This message contains an unusual link, which may lead to a malicious site. Confirm the message is safe before clicking any links.
That is incredible footage! What a treat. Thanks for all your effort to research, document and share this.
About a month ago, I accidentally flushed an adult Whip-poor-will in Fant's Grove WMA (Anderson Co., SC) and realized I was standing a few feet away from a nestling that I now have learned was probably 3 or so days old (feather shafts visible in some places). The next day, I brought my spotting scope in order to attempt to view the adult on the nest from a distance. Much to my surprise, as I approached carefully, an adult flushed from a different spot entirely, revealing two nestlings (the first time, nestling #2 was either underneath #1 or had been swept many feet away by the adult's eruption into flight, which according to the literature often happens and may even serve a purpose in separating the young from "one basket" should a predator find the nest). I also learned through all of this and further research that the nestlings are capable of moving on their own at only a couple days old. Having seen them, I never would have expected they could move on their own, but in the context of survival for a ground-nesting species, it makes sense. (And Michael's remarkable video certainly confirms this.)
Kevin Kubach
Greenville/Clemson, SC
On Mon, Jun 9, 2025 at 4:14 PM Juanita Roushdy <carolinabirds...><mailto:<carolinabirds...>> wrote:
Michael,
This is a stunning video capture and pure joy to watch - the determination of the nestlings and the patience of the parents unbelievable and a privilege to witness. Thank you so much for sharing it. It certainly made my day. A lot of patience on your part to locate and video the family.
Again, thank you.
Juanita
Bremen, ME formerly from Bald Head Island, NC
On Jun 9, 2025, at 2:26 PM, Michael Fogleman (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...><mailto:<carolinabirds...>> wrote:
Hello friends,
I recently discovered a Chuck-will's-widow nest on the Harris Lake Game Lands in New Hill, NC with the use of a thermal scope. I first determined where the male was singing at dusk to figure out roughly where to look. I also did some research on their habitat preferences. Still, it took multiple days of methodical searching with the scope to find anything. But I ultimately found two separate nesting pairs in different areas. I also found one of the males roosting on a few occasions. One nesting pair was a couple weeks ahead of the other in terms of development. The first was still incubating when I found it while the second had fairly large nestlings by the time I found them. I tried the same thing last year with an Eastern Whip-poor-will but had no success.
The most exciting part was capturing video of nestlings when they became active at dusk. Lots of interesting behavior. So I wanted to share this video.
I believe the nestlings are just a day or two old in this video. I captured the video from behind camo cover, using a 135mm f/1.8 lens for a good balance between focal length and light-gathering abilities. I have lots of photos to share too, perhaps I'll add them to an eBird checklist soon.
I'm often asked what my favorite bird is. I think I finally have an answer!
Happy birding!
Michael Fogleman
Cary, NC< br>
Per Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other Nondiscrimination statutes, Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. and its related companies will not discriminate on the grounds of race, color or national origin in the selection and retention of subconsultants, including procurement of materials and leases of equipment. Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. and its related companies will ensure that minorities will be afforded full opportunity to submit proposals and will not be discriminated against in consideration for an award.
This communication and any attachments are intended only for the use of the individual or entity named as the addressee. It may contain information which is privileged and/or confidential under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient or such recipient's employee or agent, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, copy or disclosure of this communication is strictly prohibited and to notify the sender immediately.
