Just hours after settling in to our new abode (a nearly two year labor of love by my over-worked and entirely spent husband), we received a warm welcome from the neighbors. Fully aware that this was no ordinary neighborhood, considering the mile and a half drive on a dirt road perfectly designed for a high-clearance 4-WD vehicle, and also the fact that there is not a house in sight, I was not expecting any casseroles or bottles of wine. No, this welcome gift was much more fitting - the call of the whippoorwill! Actually, whippoorwills. In fact, we could not determine how many were out there, they were making such a ruckus!
Due to their nocturnal habits, these birds are often heard but not seen. We could certainly hear them loud and clear, but I had to resist the urge to tromp in the woods to try and get a closer look, knowing that my chances of actually seeing one was pretty slim. Their cryptic coloration allows them to blend perfectly with the forest floor on which they nest. Careful not to give away their location and any chicks they may be protecting, a whippoorwill will wait until the last possible moment before flushing their nest.
While relishing our private whippoorwill chorus, my husband, Zach was convinced the unrelenting song of this woodland bird was along the lines of “WHIP-poor-WEET.” I, however, being the more experienced birder, heard the distinctive and familiar “WHIP-poor-WILL," laughing off this poor man's ridiculous declaration. After doing some research, however, I discovered that perhaps he was not delirious from exhaustion. The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology describes the eastern species call as “WHIP-poor-WEEA, not "WHIP-poor-WILL.” Of course, I kept this piece of information to myself, insignificant as it is.
Whatever they're saying, whippoorwills are welcome neighbors here on Brown-Trout Acres, feasting on insects (of which we have no shortage) and singing well into the night.
There were a lot of uncertainties about moving into the wilderness, but I never imagined rowdy neighbors being one of them. Goodbye suburbia, hello wild Appalachia!
Let the wild whippoorwill rumpus begin!
Hi Tracy.. Oh,Wow!! Just love your blog and love knowing all about your beautiful new home and land. What a terrific place to raise kids. You and Zach are the greatest parents who enrich Max and Wyatt's lives in such fantastic ways. Way to go!! I just shared your blog with Holly and her kids, Seda and Aiken, who just visited us. (We did lots of exploration in our creek, found a land turtle, a fat toad, and enjoyed the Outer Banks (boogie boarded and Aiken caught a fish in the surf) Seda and I enjoyed doing paper crafts together too and Buzz and Aiken fished in a friend's pond where Aiken caught and released 18 fish. Seda and Aiken flew here by themselves and just left from Charlotte Wed. night. What fun we had. Thanks again for sharing your blog with us; we celebrate you and all the wonderful information you share and your expertise. Love, Pat and Buzz We think of you often and miss seeing you.
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