Sustainability opportunities too good to be disguised

This common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) wakes up from a nap in the Johnson Space Center mall area. Perfectly camouflaged, the bird can sit motionless and remain undetected for most of the day. As dusk falls, the nighthawk will take to the sky to hunt insects. Their large, gaping mouth and impressive aerial acrobatics allow them to grab flying prey in midair. Their flying feats are not limited to hunting, though. Fast-flying swoops and dives make up the species’ mating display. After mating, female nighthawks will often nest on the gravel roofs of JSC buildings, where their spotted eggs are nearly invisible to predators.

Want to see this for yourself or make an impact on the natural world? Read the September sustainability opportunities to get out in nature and learn how you make a difference, like with JSC’s energy competition that runs until October.


Image Credit: NASA/Lauren Harnett
 
Matthew Strausser
NASA Johnson Space Center