9 : Indian Nightjar

Indian Nightjar - Caprimulgus indicus

The bulk of shots you get of nightjars are usually on the ground like this during the daytime. They are of course nocturnal and spend the evenings and nights hawking for moths.

This bird was camped out on the safari track in Yala and I have to admit that this shot was taken by my wife who was on the right (left) side of the safari truck. It is wonder that it didn't get run over or disturbed. It was only when we got home a couple of weeks later that we noticed the fluffy object to the right of the bird - I am sure there is a chick resting on the ground. They must rely utterly on the camouflage and remaining prefectly still. We saw dozens of mongooses and monitor lizards while in the park, there also jackals and foxes and wildcats.

Well the camouflage works because we couldn't see the chick in real life looking directly down on this bird from the safari truck - perhaps a distance of 8 feet or so. I have always wondered about ground nesting as a strategy - it seems so precarious. I presume these birds can start another brood quite easily if the young get predated and that they have a long season to get lucky. They are a large bird so I assume they have a few seasons to get it right.

Pot luck getting this shot - the truck was turning the corner and the spotter on the passenger side saw this bird tucked on the side of the track. Nobody saw the chick and presumably the genetic clockwork just tells it to stay absolutely still - even when the parent is off hawking insects.

At the end of an afternoon's game drive the headlights would be turned on on for the last twenty minutes or so getting home as it got too dark to see the way - one night we had a nightjar chasing the moths that were dancing down the headlight beams - to all the world like a giant moth itself. Moths themselves have compeletly independantly evolved the same cryptic camouflage for staying still on the branch of a tree all day. The solution that works - as an accidental adaptation - just gets passed on if successful. With moths apparently in London it has taken only thirty years or so in some species for the colouration to change back to lighter tones now that the soot has been cleaned off the buildings and trees. The lighter toned moths are better camouflaged and the darker ones stand out and are eaten. Its mind boggling. I recomend any of Dawkins books - Blind Watchmaker, Selfish Gene etc. Once you get it in your head that adaptation is "unknowing" and accidental then it becomes even more amazing.

Indian Nightjar (and chick) - Caprimulgus indicus
April 17 2011 - Yala National Park, Sri Lanka