Nightjars are mysterious, declining heathland and woodland edge birds whose welfare is tied to the quality of lowland heath and the abundance of large moths and beetles that they hunt at dusk and dawn.
Nightjar welfare is linked to the integrity of heathland ecosystems and the abundance of large nocturnal insects. Heathland loss through agricultural conversion, development, and succession to scrub has reduced available breeding habitat. The widespread decline in large moth and beetle populations - driven by light pollution, pesticides, and habitat loss - reduces foraging success, forcing nightjars to travel longer distances and spend more energy finding adequate prey. Ground-nesting sites are vulnerable to disturbance from dogs, walkers, and off-road vehicles, causing nest abandonment and chick mortality. Light pollution has a specific welfare dimension - artificial light disrupts the nocturnal insect communities that nightjars depend on.