Field trip recap: Goth Bird Walk & Common Nighthawk Quest at Horner Park

About 70 people, most in dark lightweight clothes, face the camera in two rows, the front row on their knees. They are on a grassy lawn with a few trees and a sidewalk behind them.

words and photos by Chris Holden, trip co-leader

On June 13, a group of approximately 70 people gathered in Horner Park for a special COS joint outing, led by Chris Holden and Edward Warden, COS president. 

The Chicago Nighthawk Project and Black Feather Goth-themed/dark bird outings joined up for a late evening bird walk with the ultimate goal of finding some Common Nighthawks and getting to bask in their goofy and Gothy glory.

In profile facing left, on a twig, a medium-sized bird with brown head, wings and tail. The short bill, throat and breast are orange. There is a white ring around a dark eye and a little white under the bill. The day is overcast.

American Robin. Humboldt Park, June 13, 2026.

Early highlights of the walk included a morose-appearing American Robin.  Aerial insectivores Barn Swallows and Chimney Swifts zipped around throughout the walk, hyping us up for the nighthawk main event that was hopefully coming soon. 

Many Black-Crowned Night Herons flew overhead as the walk progressed, heading back to their rookery for bedtime.  After seeing many Ring-Billed Gulls, upon seeing a Herring Gull, it was noted that it was a "big-ass gull" in comparison (although its rump appeared proportional to this writer). 

We spent a good amount of time searching for and admiring Cedar Waxwings and a Baltimore Oriole. 

About 15 people in dark clothes, standing and seen from behind look at the darkening sky, silhoutetted trees behind them.

After about an hour, as it grew darker, we became more apprehensive about the appearance of nighthawks. We heard some distant "peents" indicating their presence, and headed out to the middle of the ball fields, scouring the skies above for them, without luck. 

Just as hopes began to fade (ever so slightly), shortly before 9 pm a nighthawk was spotted nearby at eye level. Before long they were around us in all directions, oftentimes giving us up-close and amazing views, seemingly oblivious to our presence as they flew around acrobatically, gorging on insects. 

Seen from below flying from lower right to upper left, a medium-sized bird with spoon-shaped body and short, wide tail. The wings are long and dark with pointed tips and a white horizontal band near the tip. The body is dark against a sunset sky.

Common Nighthawk. Photo by Matt Zuro, Westchester, Aug. 28, 2022.

All told we saw 24 species that evening, including at least three very obliging nighthawks!

Field TripKris HansenGoth Walk, Horner Park