European Nightjar - Environmental Management

Environmental Management

Heathland

• A good proportion of old mature heather with naturally occurring small gaps, located in areas that are free from disturbance
• A sparse scatter of trees as song/look out posts (10 trees per

hectare)

• Where mature or old heather is absent or scarce, dense bracken may provide alternative

nest sites early in the breeding season but will quickly become overgrown and threaten any nearby heath. Avoid mechanical bracken control near where they might be nesting.

• Manage access by providing defined paths that lead visitors away from

nightjar nesting areas

Forestry Clearing

• Continuity of clear fells greater than 2 ha in size
• Create a waved/scalloped edge to the coup – this increases the length of foliage edge for

nightjars to feed along.

• Delay restocking
• Manage access (see above)

Coppice Woodland

• Continuity of cut coups greater than 2 ha in size
• Create a waved or scalloped edge to the coup – this increases the length of foliage edge for feeding along.
• Create and manage wide rides and glades throughout the wood, to provide foraging habitat – this will benefit other birds and wildlife