Abstract from BTO Research Report No. 398:

G. Conway & I. Henderson (2005)

The Status and Distribution of the European Nightjar Caprimulgus Europaeus in Britain in 2004 ISBN 978-1-906204-43-3

Executive Summary

1. During the summer of 2004, a UK-wide survey was conducted, by the British Trust for Ornithology, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, English Nature and Forestry Commission, to determine the population status and distribution of the Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus. The survey was based on two visits to sites (mainly 1-km squares) by volunteer observers. Professional ornithologists covered areas where volunteer coverage was low.

2. Survey sites were selected according to the presence of suitable habitat, i.e., either lowland heathland or forest plantations of less than 20 years old. Both the survey methods and habitat criteria used, allowed a direct comparison of results with a previous survey conducted in1992.

3. The survey covered 3111, 1-km squares, within 596 10-km squares (a 15% increase in coverage in 1992).

4. A preliminary estimate of the national population for 2004, was 4024 males; a 30% increase since 1992. In all, 66% of the population was located in southern England. This region accounted for 88.6% of the national increase. Relatively modest increases were recorded in Wales (mainly the south) and in East Anglia. In Northern England, there was a shallow decline, except for North Yorkshire where the population virtually doubled. The Nightjar population in Scotland appeared to have declined by 35%.

5. Nightjars were recorded in a similar number of 10-km squares to 1992 (268). Consolidation and range expansion in southern England was balanced by range contractions further north and especially in Scotland (Table 2; Fig. 3). The main concentrations (densities) of Nightjars were in Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Dorset and East Anglia.

6. In all, 46.4% of males were associated with heathland (marginally higher than in 1992), and a total of 47.6 % of males (marginally lower than in1992) were recorded in forestry plantations. On heathland, a significantly higher proportion of males (32.7%) was associated with heather rather than bracken (11.4%) or grass (9.2%).

7. The UK Biodiversity Action Plan target of 4000 males by 2002 was probably met. The target to maintain a population of at least 3400 calling males was probably met and the target to halt the range-decline of Nightjars to a 1992 baseline figure of 268 10-km squares was probably met. However, the BAP target to increase the total range of churring males to 280 10-km squares by 2002 and to restore the Nightjar to parts of its former range, such as in the West Midlands, north-west England, south-west Scotland and Northern Ireland was probably not met. Generally, Nightjar populations in north-western UK appear to have declined, in contrast to populations in the south and east.

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