Nightjar
European nightjar
Caprimulgus europaeus
Обыкновенный козодой
Caprimulgus europaeus
Обыкновенный козодой
The nightjar is one of those birds I want to talk about all the time. Their weird beauty reminds me of the medieval ages and all those creatures were drawn in books. All my friends love this bird even though they are not into it.
21 x 29 cm
Graphite pencil, paper
Graphite pencil, paper
Weird stories and myths lay behind the name of the bird. In Estonian, this one particular bird (Öösorr) has about a hundred different names! Some of their literal translations are "lazy hawk", "forest widow" and so many more. It has the same name throughout many countries where it is known as a goatsucker, козодой, succiacapre.
The name was given because these birds were numerous on farmlands and people believed that the bird sucked milk from goats. Animals later were found with signs of unusual diseases so this bird got a bad reputation being a cause of disease and also of pervasive misfortune. Although the only reason they were drawn to farmlands is to feed on the insects generally associated with livestock. But when people can't explain a thing they create a myth out of it.
Nobody has ever been fond of this bird. Until now. Because look at this ability to dissolve into the landscape to be almost transparent on the ground so no one can see you. They make a mechanical noise so nobody can even tell it is a bird. This is how they defend themself and their fledglings from predators. Their wide mouths are perfectly suited for catching moths. Not for drinking goat's milk.
As ground‑nesting birds, they depend on good sites without pesticides surrounded by native plants which provide insects, and are safe from our bored pets wandering around. Lack of these options decreased the population of nightjar in the last decades which makes it almost impossible to see in our backyards and farmlands.
A midnight walk in the woods can give you a chance to hear and watch this bird in the moonlight and imagine our medieval folks and how they were curious yet afraid of this bird and its enchanting sound.
29 x 21 cm
Graphite pencil, paper
The name was given because these birds were numerous on farmlands and people believed that the bird sucked milk from goats. Animals later were found with signs of unusual diseases so this bird got a bad reputation being a cause of disease and also of pervasive misfortune. Although the only reason they were drawn to farmlands is to feed on the insects generally associated with livestock. But when people can't explain a thing they create a myth out of it.
Nobody has ever been fond of this bird. Until now. Because look at this ability to dissolve into the landscape to be almost transparent on the ground so no one can see you. They make a mechanical noise so nobody can even tell it is a bird. This is how they defend themself and their fledglings from predators. Their wide mouths are perfectly suited for catching moths. Not for drinking goat's milk.
As ground‑nesting birds, they depend on good sites without pesticides surrounded by native plants which provide insects, and are safe from our bored pets wandering around. Lack of these options decreased the population of nightjar in the last decades which makes it almost impossible to see in our backyards and farmlands.
A midnight walk in the woods can give you a chance to hear and watch this bird in the moonlight and imagine our medieval folks and how they were curious yet afraid of this bird and its enchanting sound.
29 x 21 cm
Graphite pencil, paper
I hope you all find the courage to meet this bird in real life. And do not be afraid of the dark as our medieval folks. Because the darkness keeps away from us so many cryptic yet beautiful creatures living their nocturnal lives.
European nightjar
Caprimulgus europaeus
Обыкновенный козодой
Caprimulgus europaeus
Обыкновенный козодой
Thank you!
