Habitat management for Nightingales |New guidelines published by BTO
Posted in:
Biodiversity, Birds, Protected Species, Surveys and Assessment
Date posted: 30 June 2015
Earlier this year, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) published Managing Scrub for Nightingales: A BTO Guide for Land Managers and Conservation Practitioners. This followed a period of research jointly funded by Anglian Water to understand why the Nightingale breeding population in the UK has declined by 90% since the 1960s. The new guidance on habitat management for Nightingales is provided in the form of a Conservation Advice Note. This is the first of it’s kind to be published by the BTO. Click here to download a copy.
The following summary information about habitat management for Nightingales and further detailed advice is provided:
- Scrub is a dynamic habitat, constantly changing as it evolves into woodland. Nightingales seem to be particularly sensitive to this gradual change and will only use scrub for the few years when it is most vigorous and dense.
- To maintain suitable scrub structure, regular maintenance is needed. The easiest way to achieve this is by rotational cutting of the scrub patches, to prevent the scrub from getting too old and ‘leggy’ for the Nightingales, and also to ensure a constant supply of vigorous new growth.
- Scrub should be cut at intervals, typically in the range of 10–15 years, though this will depend on the shrub species and local conditions.
- The management plan needs to ensure that continuity of suitable thicket structures is maintained through appropriate rotational cutting. It is probably better to maintain a coarse grained mosaic containing reasonable-sized blocks of woody growth of similar age than many very small patches of different growth ages. This is best achieved by cutting adjacent patches of scrub in each year, rather than widely dispersed patches.
- There is still much to be learned about the best rotational management strategies. So keeping records of which patches were cut when, and exactly where Nightingale territories were located in each year, is valuable.
CASE STUDY: During the current (2105) breeding season, Alar Ecology was commissioned by The Landmark Practice to undertake a series of early-morning Nightingale surveys in the Cotswold Water Park. These pinpointed males in song at three locations within the Lower Mill Estate. At one location, a brief recording was made. This can be heard on You Tube (see below). For best results (and maximum enjoyment), turn the volume up!
The photograph accompanying this recording shows recent habitat management for Nightingales at a traditional site. This has clearly has proved to be successful. The male was heard singing well into the season. It was almost certainly holding territory rather than just passing through.
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