Center for Conservation Biology | U.S. Nightjar Survey Network

This project has expanded to provide greater coverage of the United States. Go here to visit Untied States Nightjar Survey Network Homepage hosted by the Center for Conservation Biology. We will retain this page for people who have bookmarked it.

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

Nightjars are among the most enigmatic birds in North America . Very little is known on 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 United States Nightjar Survey Networkis a new and powerful annual monitoring strategy, coordinated by The Center for Conservation Biology, to collect information on population distribution and trends of Nightjars over large regions. The project began by introducing Nightjar survey routes in ten southeastern US states in 2007including: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The program is now expanded to cover 37 additional states. The success of the survey network relies almost 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.

The U.S Nightjar Surveys are easy to perform and will not take much more than one hour 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, by driving and stopping at 10 points along a predetermined 9-mile route. At each point, the observer counts all Whip-poor-wills or Chuck-will’s Widows heard or seen during a 6-minute period. No artificial broadcast of the species call is used.

Please consider adopting a Nightjar Survey Route, your participation is key to the success of the program. To get involved click here.

This project has expanded to provide greater coverage of the United States. Go here to visit Untied States Nightjar Survey Network Homepage hosted by the Center for Conservation Biology