This group is comprised of Whip-Poor-Wills, Chuck-Wills-Widow, and Hight Hawks. The Whip-Poor-Will and the Chuck-Wills-Widow are large ground birds about 12″ long; and the Night Hawk is larger and speeds it’s night time hours in flight.
They feed entirely on insects during the night time hours and are usually quite vocal during dusk and dawn and, more so, on near full moon lit nights. Their songs are repetitive and easily heard at ROLF. When driving at night they can be seen flying erratically in the headlights and their red eyes are easily seen.
They are reside in the Goatsucker family. The were once thought to drink milk from goats at night.
At appears this year (2008) the Chuck-Wills-Widow is the most common form to hear.
These are warblers that may pass through ROLF in April-May but nest substaintially north orwest of Missouri. They may be seen for a period of about 50 days.
Common at ROLF from April to October. Our smallest bird. Can be found on all tubular flowers probing for nectar or a feeders. They are particularly found of Cardinal Flowers (Lobelia) in the late summer and fall long the North Fork River.
Permanent resident of ROLF. Smallest woodpecker. Can been seen nesting in the summer or eating at feeders in the winter. Loves suet. Will actually feed at hummingbird feeders in the spring because it also loves nectar.
ROLF has a permanent resident in the Tufted Tit Mouse. This small gray bird has a distinctive call “peter, peter, peter, peter”. It will readily feed at a bird feeder on sunflower seeds. They nest at ROLF about 12-20′ up in the trees.
Common resident of ROFL. More often heard; sounds like a cat; “meow, meow”. Nest in low bushes and shrubs and is very secretive. Heard on this May 2008.
Permanent resident of Missouri now. Gone for 40 years has returned to the Ozarks and nests on the North Fork River. Their are at least two nests on the river and 300 across the state. Bald Eagles can be readily seen from any other the cabin flying low through the valley looking for fish.
Common in all of Missouri. Nests statewide. State Bird. Winters in southern Missouri. Take to Bluebird houses. A gentle and joyous bird. Male and Female shown.
Blooms along the North Fork (some years profusely) and is a startling color of red. Attracts hummingbirds all fall until they migrate south. Shown on top, is the rarer Blue Lobelia, also on the North Fork River.