So pretty

This amazing bird is a Nighthawk, one of the most awesome birds who fly at dusk scooping up bugs. They have a very teeny beak but a huge mouth, sort of like a whale shark swimming with its mouth open picking up krill.

I drove down to Thermopolis to meet the Boysen State Park person, the bird was found at one of the campgrounds. They'd had a very severe hail storm, probably what caused the wing wound. No broken bones but the other problem was much worse. She had a prolapsed rectum. Dr. Blessing did a heroic job putting it back in place but unfortunately just as he was finishing she stopped breathing and her heart quit.

These birds used to be common but I don't see them much anymore. I mourn the loss of this beautiful little female.