After a quick storm cell moved over the winds died down and miniature tornadoes of midges quickly grew along Odland's Dam in western North Dakota (6/4/2014).

 

"Midge" is a word I first learned when I got into fly fishing in Western Montana.  A "hatch" to a fly fisherman was similar to a high school student hearing "substitute teacher."  It means, for at least a day, things will be easier.  Trout are often rising to the surface to eat hatching or dying midges, and they're easily fooled by imitation flies.  Odland's Dam does not have trout, but the splash of an occasional bluegill could be seen slurping a midge off the surface of the water.  Perhaps more notably were the Common Nighthawks and swallows (Cliff, Tree, and Barn Swallows) that were swooping very close to fill their mouths with the insects.  At times it's difficult to imagine how a bird the size of a nighthawk can meet their daily caloric needs simply by flying around with their mouth open catching insects, however, the evening this photo was taken, it seemed like an easy occupation!