Nightjar Survey

A region-wide network of conservation minded citizens working together to improve our understanding of the population distribution and trends of Nightjars.

Nightjars, or goatsuckers, are the most enigmatic group of birds in North America. Very little is known about the basic aspects of their biology, habitat use, and population status due to their cryptically nocturnal lifestyle.

In recent years, conservationists and the general public have come to share a general sense that populations of Nightjars are dramatically declining. However, prior to this program, there was no widespread, long term monitoring strategy to gather vital population information. Gaining an understanding on the precise magnitude and scale of population changes are critical if we are to plot a course for conservation.

The Nightjar Survey Network is a new and powerful annual monitoring strategy, coordinated by The Center for Conservation Biology, College of William & Mary, to collect information on population distribution and trends of Nightjars over large regions. Nightjar survey routes are distributed throughout 38 U.S. states. The success of this program relies entirely on volunteer participation.

Nocturnal behaviors of Nightjars are influenced strongly by moonlight. Activities such as calling and foraging increase under bright moonlight conditions and it is thought that breeding may actually be timed with the lunar schedule. We have designed protocols for this survey to take advantage of these behaviors by conducting surveys only during bright moonlit nights so detection rates will be higher and more consistent.

Nightjar Surveys are easy to perform and will not take more than two hours to complete. It is conducted like the USGS Breeding Bird Survey except for special modifications to accommodate Nightjars. Volunteers conduct roadside counts at night, when the moon is equal or greater than 50 % illuminated and above the horizon, by driving and stopping at 10 points along a predetermined 9-mile route. At each point, the observer counts all Nightjars seen or heard during a 6-minute period. No artificial broadcast of the species call is used.

MPRA volunteers are planning a Nightjar Survey on 27 June from about 12 midnight to about 1AM. For more information, send an e-mail to mpra@mpra.org and we can put you in touch with the appropriate volunteers.