‘How quiet can the night be?’ E. Ky. Whip-poor-will study aims to combat decline

Whip-poor-wills in the state and across the eastern half of the country are experiencing a severe “rapid and sustained” decline that scientists say has been happening for decades.

By: Morgan Eads

Outlets: Kentucky Lantern

Published: June 11, 2026

Words: 2,313

Last Updated: 17 hours ago

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On Sept. 29, 2025 a strange looking nocturnal bird took flight on a hardwired journey south from Kentucky.

A 17-day trip that included a stopover in Baton Rouge, La., took the bird to Chiapas, Mexico’s southernmost state at the border of Guatemala. There, he spent 166 days before taking flight again on March 30 of this year.

On May 29, this Eastern Whip-poor-will was captured in Breathitt County, Ky., in the Paul Van Booven …

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