The nightjar is a mysterious nocturnal bird whose welfare depends on open heathland and woodland edge habitat increasingly lost to development and succession.
Nightjar welfare is affected by habitat loss reducing foraging area and increasing competition during breeding, nest disturbance by dogs and walkers on heathland, and challenges during long-distance migration. Ground-nesting birds that are flushed repeatedly by disturbance experience acute stress and risk nest abandonment. Conservation management maintaining open heathland through grazing, burning, and tree removal directly benefits individual nightjar welfare by maintaining foraging and nesting habitat. Restricting dog access to heathland during the breeding season protects individual birds and nests.