Breeding Ecology of the Florida Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor chapmani)
Abstract
I collected observational data on breeding Florida Nighthawks (Chordeiles minor chapmani) at two sites in Florida. The number of nests and territories varied by year and site. I found nests in a greater percent of territories in oak scrub (73%, 11 nests in 15 territories) during two seasons (1990 and 1992) than in pine flatwoods (19%, 14 in 72) throughout a seven- year period (1992 - 1997). In oak scrub, 67% of nests fledged at least one young in 1990. In pine flatwoods, 25 – 100% of nests found each year fledged at least one young. Habitat composition was different for the two sites, but configuration was similar. At a larger scale, the oak-scrub site is a protected area in a rural setting whereas the pine-flatwoods site is public and bordered by suburban development.
