Often heard and rarely seen, the eastern whip-poor-will and its namesake nighttime call is an iconic Midwestern woodland bird. But like many other insect-eating birds, its numbers are declining. University of Illinois avian researchers are working to uncover the secrets of where this elusive bird goes and what it does when it leaves Illinois to overwinter in Florida, Central, and South America to better understand its full annual cycle. Bird watchers and nature enthusiasts alike will get a better understanding of what’s happening to whip-poor-wills in our backyard and across the country.
This Everyday Environment webinar was recorded on Oct. 16, 2025, and presented by Dave Edlund, Coordinator of the Midwest Eastern Whip-poor-will Project and natural resources, environmental sciences M.S. student, University of Illinois.