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Nighthawks
By Russell A. Graves
Cruising down a crunchy backroad just after sunrise, the dust from my tires drifts high in the air behind me. The wind is still and after a long, protracted span with little rain, the land is dry. Even at 8:30 a.m., the air is already stifling, and it’s going to be a hot day.
Up ahead, I see a familiar sight: sitting still atop a ragged and weathered cedar post is a nighthawk. Trying his best to stay camouflaged, the bird sits quietly atop the post. Its stippled coloration of blacks, grays and browns helps it blend into the post. If I weren’t specifically looking for this species of birds, I may have never seen it. It is one of those unique species that lives amongst us, but probably few ever notice it. I ease up next to it in my truck, kill the engine and proceed to press the button that brings my camera to life. A couple of dozen pictures later, I leave the bird behind and begin looking for more as summertime in Childress County is nighthawk season.
Beautiful yet mysterious, the nighthawk comes out to feed in the evenings and roosts during the day. Therefore, if you don’t know what you are looking for, you might just miss them even though they live amongst most all Texans. Scientifically speaking, the nighthawk isn’t really a hawk, but it belongs to a family of birds called nightjars. Nightjars are characterized by long, pointed wings, short legs and short bills. In Texas, species such as whip-poor-wills, poorwills, pauraque, and the common and lesser nighthawks are all part of the nightjar family. Also called goatsuckers, this family of birds was once thought to feed off the milk of goats.
While the nighthawk is a common bird, they are sometimes hard to find. Even though the common nighthawk is found over all of Texas and most of North America and the lesser nighthawk is found in southern Texas, they are still hard to casually observe. They are secretive, extremely well camouflaged and are mostly active at dusk and during the overnight hours.
To read more pick up a copy of the October 2017 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
By Krista Lucas Wynn
Each year, when the professional rodeo season wraps on Sept. 30, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association announce the Nutrena Horse of the Year, presented by the American Quarter Horse Association, in each event. This is a prestigious award, voted on by the members of the associations. To be named Horse of the Year by fellow competitors is a high honor only a few achieve.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Heather Welper
Husband and wife duo, Heather and Calvin Welper, are the Co-Owners and Operators or Two C Livestock, located in Valley View, Texas.
The pair’s operation has a show cattle focus where they raise and sell purebred heifers of all breeds and club calf Hereford steers.
When it comes to show cattle, the Welpers know a thing or two including how to prepare for the cold winter months and the Texas major show season run.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Tony Dean
Snow on the Mountain is an annual forb that is part of our landscape almost every year.
It is adapted to most of Texas and grows north to Montana and Minnesota and south to Mexico.
Although is seems to be most adapted to clay soils, this plant can be found on a wide variety of soil and moisture conditions.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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