[nfc-l] ducks and grebes in night migration?

[Andy Martin]

I was curious to know whether duck and grebe species call in night 
migration and whether anyone on the list serve has heard or recorded them.

Geese and swans obviously call at night. One of my all time favorite 
sounds is a flock of Tundra Swans passing overhead on a quiet night in 
late Feb or early March. I am aware that Steve Kelling on his website 
(http://www.birds.cornell.edu/birdcalls) has a recording of night 
migrating Long-tailed Ducks. What about other duck and grebe species?

I have looked around the internet and cannot seem to find much 
information. At Cornell's /Birds of North America Online, /they list 
such species as Blue-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, Northern Pintail, 
Pied-billed and Horned Grebes as most likely nocturnal migrants.

Since 2005, I have been recording on favorable nights in March but do 
not think I have ever picked up any calls that might be a duck or grebe. 
I do get some wing beats one in a while. Mostly its Tundra Swans, Canada 
Geese, Song Sparrows, Ring-billed Gulls, Killdeer and occasionally a 
Wilson's Snipe or a Barn Owl.

Are these birds mostly silent in night migration or possibly I just 
don't live in a favorable flyway?

Thanks for any insight.

Andy Martin
Gaithersburg, MD

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