Got Nature? Blog

Question: “Have whippoorwill birds disappeared in our area?” We recently received this question from a bird enthusiast in southern Indiana who has noticed the absence of Eastern Whip-poor-wills in his area. He shared that when he was younger, Whip-poor-wills were common and their calls were regularly heard in the evenings. However, over time, sightings and calls have become rare or have seemingly disappeared altogether.

Photo: Matt Williams Nature Photography.

Resource Request: “As a landowner with access to a significant amount of family-owned property, I am interested in learning whether any programs exist in Indiana that focus on raising and releasing Eastern Whip-poor-wills or otherwise supporting their return to suitable habitats. I would also like to know if there are opportunities for private landowners to participate in conservation or habitat management efforts that could benefit this species in southern Indiana.”

Answer:  Your observation of the decline is accurate. Breeding bird surveys have documented a population decline in the U.S. over the past 40-50 years. The primary reasons for this is loss of forest habitat, loss of young forests, and declines in old-fields (many converted to other cover types – crops, pastures, houses). There is no raise and release programs for whip-poor-wills. In fact, these are rarely done and only in very unusual circumstances when a species faces extinction. It’s very expensive, logistically challenging or impossible, and it doesn’t work.  This is true even if we have appropriate habitat available, which we do not in many parts of its range.

The good news is that more groups and agencies are starting to pay attention and work to improve habitat for this charismatic and unique bird.  I provided a couple resources below that you may find of interest.

Check out these resources to learn more along with resources listed below:

The Birders’ Dozen Profile 9: Eastern Whip-poor-will, Indiana Woodland Steward
Antrostomus Vociferus, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Fire Effects Information System, US Forest Service Research and Development

More Resources:
Natural History – Whip-poor-will, Indiana Woodland Steward
Virtual Tour Brings Forest Management for Birds to Life, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) Got Nature? Blog
Breeding Bird Atlas, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Forestry for the Birds, Pond and Wildlife, Purdue Extension
IN DNR Shares How to Keep Your Backyard Birds Healthy, Purdue Extension – FNR Got Nature? Blog
Question: Is there any risk of becoming infected with avian influenza virus by feeding backyard birds?, Purdue Extension – FNR Got Nature? Blog
Breeding Birds and Forest Management: the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment and the Central Hardwoods Region, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Forest Birds, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Managing Woodlands for Birds Video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
The Birders’ Dozen, Profile: Baltimore Oriole, Indiana Woodland Steward
Ask An Expert, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube channel
Birds and Residential Window Strikes: Tips for Prevention, The Education Store
No Room at the Inn: Suburban Backyards and Migratory Birds, The Education Store
Putting a Little Wildlife in Your Backyard This Spring, The Education Store
Subscribe, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel

Dr. Brian MacGowan, Extension Wildlife Specialist & Certified Wildlife Biologist
Department of Forestry & Natural Resources, Purdue University