Wildlife

Wild Nightjar Heathland Welfare

Nightjars are nocturnal heathland birds that have recovered on managed heathland but remain vulnerable to disturbance during their concealed ground nesting.

Key Facts

Nightjars breed on lowland heathland, moorland edges and forestry clearings from May to August
They nest on bare ground and are extremely well camouflaged, making disturbance risk high
Churring song of males at dusk is the primary survey method for population assessment
UK nightjar populations have increased with heathland management and forestry clearing creation
Dogs disturbing nesting nightjars cause egg chilling and nest abandonment in minutes

Welfare Considerations

Nightjar breeding welfare requires responsible access management on heathland during the May to August breeding season. Dogs disturbing ground-nesting birds cause the most frequent direct welfare harm.

What You Can Do

Keep dogs on leads on heathland from May to August to protect ground-nesting birds including nightjars
Follow guided nightjar watching events at RSPB and Wildlife Trust reserves to experience them safely
Support heathland management that creates and maintains nightjar breeding habitat