![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/A-Lesser-Nighthawk-in-Costa-Rica-credit-Jerry-Oldenettel-originally-posted-to-Flickr-via-CC-2.0-1024.jpeg\")
A Lesser Nighthawk in Costa Rica \u2013 credit, Jerry Oldenettel \u2013 originally posted to Flickr, via CC 2.0.<\/p>\n A Lesser Nighthawk in Costa Rica \u2013 credit, Jerry Oldenettel \u2013 originally posted to Flickr, via CC 2.0.<\/p>\n
The population of one of England\u2019s most-elusive birds is flourishing again thanks to conservation efforts in the south of the country.<\/p>\n
The nightjar, sometimes called the nighthawk, becomes active at twilight, and they\u2019re\u00a0famous for their chortling calls and fantastic camouflage.<\/p>\n
Their numbers declined some 51% between the 1970s and 2000s after substantial forest loss.<\/p>\n
The UK\u2019s South Downs National Park stretches across the areas of Hampshire, West Sussex, and East Sussex, and it\u2019s among the lowland heath and forests that nightjars have staged a remarkable population recovery.<\/p>\n
A nightjar survey in the park last year counted more than 70 birds, which is believed to mark a doubling over the last 5 years. The animals migrate 4,000 miles north from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to reside in the UK between April and August. Meanwhile, forest and heathland restoration efforts have raised the number of good nesting habitats to 109 across Britain.<\/p>\n
The birds nest on the ground, so conservation work has specifically focused on communication with visitors to places like South Downs. They\u2019re encouraged to keep their dogs on leashes, stay on marked trails, and avoid bushwhacking so as not to disturb or destroy the sensitive nesting areas.<\/p>\n
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