Imagine stumbling upon a bird so rare, it's been described as 'almost extinct' in Northern Ireland. That's exactly what happened in Belfast, where a nightjar, a creature of the shadows, was discovered hiding behind a bin. But here's where it gets controversial... Could this sighting be a sign of a hidden population, or is it just a lone wanderer? Let's dive into this fascinating story.
In a bustling Belfast street, office workers on Lisburn Road thought they had spotted a bird of prey. Little did they know, they had encountered something far more extraordinary. Wildlife rescuer Debbie Nelson, affectionately known as Debbie Doolittle, was called to the scene. To her astonishment, the bird was a nightjar, a species so elusive in Northern Ireland that only a handful of sightings have been recorded since the 1950s.
And this is the part most people miss... Nightjars, being nocturnal, are often disoriented by street lights, leading to collisions with buildings. Doolittle suspects this might have been the case with this particular bird. She carefully transported it to her rescue center in Antrim, where it could rest and recover. The following day, she released it back into the wild, a moment she described as 'very rewarding.'
This rescue, which occurred in September, was so special to Doolittle that she waited until the new year to share the footage, calling it her 'most special' rescue of 2025. In her video, the nightjar rests calmly in her hand before being placed in a plastic crate designed to mimic a forest floor, complete with branches, logs, and wood chip bark to make it feel at home. She fed it a diet of 'juicy bugs' to help it regain its strength. The release was kept top-secret to avoid attracting birdwatchers and their cameras, which could have frightened the bird.
Nightjars are more commonly found in southern England during the summer months, making this Belfast sighting all the more unusual. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) confirmed that there has been no recent evidence of nightjar breeding in Northern Ireland, adding that this discovery was 'exciting.'
But why are nightjars so rare? John Lusby, Conservation Officer at Birdwatch Ireland, explains that nightjars were once a familiar sight and sound in Ireland. Their distinctive call, likened to the sound of a spinning wheel, even inspired their Irish name, túirne lín. However, their numbers 'diminished dramatically' in the latter half of the 20th century due to habitat loss and pesticide use, as nightjars primarily feed on insects. A 2024 report by Lusby suggested that nightjars had all but disappeared from Ireland, but a survey he coordinated in the southeast of the country revealed a tiny population, described as the 'last remaining stronghold.'
The survey, focused on counties Kilkenny and Wexford, recorded nightjar calls from two sites, but only one pair was found breeding successfully. A subsequent, broader study in Waterford and Tipperary captured footage of a breeding pair's nest using a drone with a thermal sensor. The nest's location remains a secret to protect the birds.
Lusby was surprised by the Belfast sighting but noted that nightjars are masters of staying 'under the radar' and could be present in small numbers in areas yet to be discovered. The results of Birdwatch Ireland's 2025 nightjar survey are eagerly awaited and expected soon.
How can you spot a nightjar? These small, nocturnal birds have large dark eyes, pointed wings, and long tails. Their short, narrow beaks open wide to catch insects and moths in mid-flight. Their feathers, a mottled blend of brown, grey, beige, and white, provide excellent camouflage in their heath and moorland habitats. The RSPB describes them as slightly smaller than a kestrel but with a falcon-like appearance in flight. Their call is often compared to the sound of a 'strange clockwork toy steadily unwinding.'
Nightjars migrate to the UK and Ireland in late April and May, favoring southern England for their summer stay. Smaller populations are found in Wales, northern England, southwestern Scotland, and southeast Ireland. They return to sub-Saharan Africa in August and September. The UK's nightjar population declined by 51% between 1972 and 1992 due to habitat loss, but conservation efforts, including the restoration of lowland heath, have helped numbers recover, according to the RSPB.
Here’s a thought-provoking question for you: With sightings like the one in Belfast, could nightjars be making a quiet comeback, or are these just isolated incidents? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
