Foraging activity and habitat use by European Nightjars in South Wales

摘要

Foraging activity and habitat use by European Nightjars Caprimulgus europaeus were measured during a radio-tracking study in coniferous forest in South Wales. Nightjars were most active from around 15 minutes after sunset for a period of about 80 minutes. After resting for most of the remainder of the night there was a further period of activity, which began around 80 minutes before sunrise and continued for about one hour. Different feeding activities were recorded in different light levels. Most nests and the highest levels of feeding activity were recorded in forestry that had been felled less than five years before the study. Forestry blocks up to I 5 years old were still important for foraging, but there was limited activity in older woodland. Results also suggest that the number of churring males recorded may not translate reliably into breeding pairs