Sherwood Nightjar Survey 2016.
As part of plans to set new targets for breeding Nightjar in Sherwood and to write a new species recovery plan, a workshop was held in January when it was agreed to undertake a survey of Nightjars in Sherwood this year by a number of organisations (Birklands Ringing Group, BTO, Forestry Commission, National Trust, Nottinghamshire Biological and Geological Records Centre, Natural England, Newark and Sherwood DC, Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers, Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, RSPB and Thoresby Estate).
It was proposed that Andy Lowe, Birklands Ringing Group, and Carl Cornish, RSPB, help to organise the survey. We have identified the key Nightjar sites and the monitoring already in place, the good news being that most are monitored on a regular basis. We have subsequently identified the 1 km squares with Nightjars from the last national survey in 2004 and new potential 1 km squares. Lynda Milner, the BTO county rep, is helping to advertise the survey to BTO survey volunteers.
The survey methodology will follow that of the last national survey. It is based on 1 km squares and a minimum of two visits to a site will be required, either at dawn or dusk, between the last week of May and mid-July, with at least three weeks between visits and at least one visit in June. Surveyors make a preliminary visit to their site(s) to familiarize themselves with the terrain in daylight. During count visits each surveyor will cover no more than 80 ha per visit, being sure to pass within 200 m of all potentially suitable habitat. The locations of ‘churring’ males are recorded onto scale maps (males marked A1, A2, etc., for visit A, and B1, B2, etc. for visit B), with special attention given to simultaneously churring males. Other calling birds or birds seen flying are also marked on the visit maps.
Sites are to be visited only in calm and usually dry evenings or mornings in wind conditions of less than Beaufort force 4. ‘Playback’ of recorded Nightjar calls is not to be used as it could disturb breeding birds.
We also encourage all casual records to be submitted to the county bird recorder, with a grid reference of the location.
As ever, please follow the Birdwatchers’ Code of Conduct, the Countryside Code, and do not trespass. The survey does not confer right of entry on private land. Unfortunately we can’t offer any reimbursement for travel expenses.
If you are interested in surveying a km square please contact Carl Cornish:
Email – carl.cornish@rspb.org.uk
Work mobile 07850 722835