Background / Objectives

Nightjars, like other nocturnal or secretive bird species, are poorly monitored by existing programs and there is limited evidence to suggest that both Common Nighthawk and Whip-poor-will populations have declined significantly in the last 40 years. The Wisconsin Nightjar Survey was created to better understand population trends and distributions of these two species. This project is part of a large cooperative effort from the Northeast Coordinated Bird Monitoring Partnership and the United States Nightjar Survey Network in cooperation with New Hampshire Audubon, the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative (WBCI) and other state partners.

What participants can expect

The nightjar survey is an exciting opportunity for birders of any skill level to get out after dark to help monitor Whip-poor-wills, Common Nighthawks and other nocturnal creatures from the relative safety of rural secondary roads. Surveyors are asked to dedicate one evening per year during a short window in May-June. Each survey route consists of 10 stops along a road. Surveyors record birds heard for 6 minutes at each stop, and the entire survey takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. Survey dates change from year to year as the survey needs to be done when the moon is more than half full and above the horizon. See the detailed protocols here.

Observers in past years heard and saw lots of Whip-poor-wills, nighthawks, owls, coyotes, deer, frogs, and other unexpected nocturnal creatures. Read through some of the "Stories from the Field" to get an idea of how other surveyors fared. To learn more about the survey, open the protocol document or attend an upcoming WBCI citizen monitoring workshop. Sign up for a route today!

For more information, contact survey coordinator Ryan Brady, Wisconsin DNR, at ryan.brady@wisconsin.gov or 715-685-2933.

Results

The Wisconsin Nightjar Survey has completed two field seasons. In 2009, 67 volunteers surveyed 72 routes statewide and detected 167 Whip-poor-wills and 42 Common Nighthawks during the primary survey window, along with 124 owls of six species. Whip-poor-wills were concentrated in areas of dry, sandy soils and results were remarkably similar between 2008 and 2009. Read a summary of the effort to date in the 2009 Annual Report.

Additional Nightjar Survey Links

United States Nightjar Survey Network
Northeast Coordinated Bird Monitoring Partnership - Night Birds
Whip-poor-will Species Account: Wisconsin All-bird Conservation Plan
All About Birds: Whip-poor-will
All About Birds: Common Nighthawk
Monitoring of Owls and Nightjars (MOON) in Illinois