Nighthunter

Despite extensive attempts at study the life cycle of the nighthunter is completely unknown. Unlike other birds they do not seem to lay eggs, although this has not been proven definitively as nobody has discovered a nighthunter nest or nesting site, or even juvenile nighthunters. To this day the birds, and their life cycle, remain a complete mystery to all except Pollination by Night, which maintains full secrecy on the matter.   Attempts to capture the birds for closer study in a contained environment have always resulted in a visit from Pollination by Night and a demand for the immediate release of the bird back into their custody.   One scientist was able to test a blood sample prior to the arrival of the Pollination by Night retrieval team, discovering the Nighthunter in question had contracted vampirism. This unfortunately left more questions than answers. Is vampirism common across the Nighthunters? How did the bird contract the disease? What effect does vampirism have on the birds, and on their pollinating abilities? Is Pollination by Night aware that at least one of their birds, probably more, possess the disease?   Given the secrecy surrounding the Nighthunter, it is unfortunately unlikely any of these questions will be answered.

Nighthunters are, unsurprisingly, nocturnal. While they have been spotted during the day the birds remain fairly sluggish and prefer shaded locations until dusk, where they begin to scout for food in the form of flower nectar and small insects. Upon nightfall the birds enter their active state, quickly flitting from flower to flower in a surprisingly organized manner. This behavior continues until dawn, at which point the birds conclude their activities and most disappear until dusk returns.   The nighthunter is most commonly spotted in the fields of farmer who have contracted for service with Pollination by Night, after a representative of the organization has personally surveyed the fields to be serviced.

Nectar appears to provide the bulk of the birds' dietary requirements although they also seem fond of augmenting that diet with insects, especially bloodsucking varieties such as mosquitoes and fleas. Nighthunters are effective pollinators, as the pollen clings to their facial feathers while they feed on nectar from deep within their chosen flowers. Their wings also spread pollen across flower bunches as a result of their powerful wing flaps during landing and takeoff.   Farmers who have observed the birds in their fields claim the nighthunters seem to employ tactics that would guarantee the highest spread of pollen, fully feeding on compatible plant types before moving on the other varieties, and quickly adapting to changing conditions to maintain efficiency. But surely the birds aren't pollinating on purpose... Right?

Pollination by Night uses the nighthunters to provide pollination services to their clients. As the birds are only seen on farms contracting for their services it is unknown if the birds have any wild relatives, or if they are born artificially through zokinetic manipulation of a different bird variety.