Elusive nightjar birds making remarkable comeback, conser...

What’s Happening

So basically An ecological survey has found 109 nightjar territories in the lowland heaths of east Hampshire.

Elusive nightjar birds making remarkable comeback, conservationists say 14 hours ago Save Galya Dimitrova South of England Save The nightjar has “a supernatural reputation” thanks to a myth that it steals milk from goats The number of nightjars recorded in a national park is thought to have doubled in the past five years following conservation efforts. Seventy eight of the elusive birds, which are known for their “churring” song at sunset, were recorded last year in an ecological survey within the South Downs National Park. (it feels like chaos)

A spokesman for the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) described it as “a remarkable comeback” and was “thanks to nature recovery efforts and better habitat management”.

The Details

The survey also found 109 nightjar territories, the highest recorded, in the lowland heaths of east Hampshire, including Woolmer Forest and the commons of Shortheath, Bramshott, Ludshott, Broxhead and Kingsley. Sam Moore/PA Wire SDNPA dropped the current rise in nightjar numbers followed work focused on protecting and increasing lowland heath, such as the commons of Shortheath, which provides the habitat for the birds ground-nesting sites Nightjars are crepuscular ground-nesting birds - meaning they emerge at twilight and can be seen hunting for food at dusk and dawn.

The birds migrate 4,000 miles (6,437 km) from the Democratic Republic of Congo each spring and remain from April to August. The birds have a number of nicknames, with the most unusual being “the goatsucker”.

Why This Matters

The SDNPA spokesman broke down: “Long ago it was thought nightjars would drink milk directly from goats, poisoning them so their udders wasted away and they went blind. “The myth was once common in many countries all over Europe. The legend probably arose from the fact that nightjars were coming close to livestock because they were hunting insects nearby.

Scientists and researchers are watching this development closely.

The Bottom Line

The legend probably arose from the fact that nightjars were coming close to livestock because they were hunting insects nearby.

Thoughts? Drop them below.