Up Front

As the spring nights have gotten longer, I find myself enjoying the cool evenings on my back porch, nested in the woods above the Missouri River. I’ve been joined by the persistent calls of a chuck-will’s-widow, a sound — along with the calls of whip-poor-wills — that defines summer nights across the Missouri Ozarks and wooded areas of the state. There is something truly timeless about this distinct sound that takes me back to summer camping trips as a kid or evenings around the campfire with old friends. One member of this story is noticeably missing — the fireflies. Like many insects across the state, this once iconic animal is in steep decline. 

Chuck-will’s-widows and whip-poor-wills are ground nesting birds, which feed primarily on moths and other flying insects. Their populations are declining presumably because of lower insect abundance, habitat loss, and maturing of our Missouri forest. They prefer open woodland habitats that produce a greater abundance of insects and provide adequate nesting cover. The habitat conditions for these species are like those of another iconic Missouri species — the wild turkey. MDC is currently partnering with researchers and land managers at the University of Missouri, U.S. Forest Service Northern Research Station, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to better understand factors driving declines in these understudied species. The lessons learned will inform managers on how best to actively manage our forest and woodlands and use prescribed fire and other tools to improve forest and woodland habitats for these ground nesting birds that define the Missouri outdoors. 

Jason Sumners, Director

JASON.SUMNERS@MDC.MO.GOV