The third edition of the annual Global Nightjar Network (GNN) conference took place virtually between 12 and 14 November 2024. Since 2021, the GNN has organized annual virtual conferences to promote scientific research, education, and outreach, aiming to raise awareness of the biological and cultural importance of nightjars.
The conference offered free registration and attracted over 100 participants from 24 countries across all continents, including Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Colombia, Slovakia, Spain, US, France, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Mongolia, Nigeria, Peru, Portugal, UK, South Africa, Sweden, and Thailand. A total of 23 oral communications were presented across three daily sessions, along with discussion sessions open to all participants.
The presentations highlighted the latest methods for monitoring nightjar populations, particularly through bioacoustics (breeding studies) and telemetry (migration studies). Much attention focused on the impact of landscape modifications on nightjar movement patterns, highlighting the importance of mosaic landscapes that provide access to the diverse resources these birds require for reproduction and survival. Other topics addressed included the effectiveness of various management actions, ranging from substrate management on rooftops (where some species nest) to the care and release of individuals rehabilitated at wildlife recovery centers in South America. The results from a nocturnal camera-trapping study emphasized the importance of access to water sources for red-necked nightjars in Doñana, which are increasingly affected by intense heatwaves.
Aerial insects, the primary prey of nightjars, received special attention during this edition. Despite their critical role in understanding the population dynamics of both insects and nightjars and predicting future scenarios, data on the diet of these birds, as well as the diversity and abundance of local insects, remain scarce. To address this gap, studies were presented on dietary habits and prey selection patterns of nightjars, using modern molecular identification techniques along with local insect abundance estimates.
Keynote speakers included Prof. Mark Brigham from the University of Regina (Canada) and Prof. Ruben Evens from UCLouvain (Belgium), who discussed the adaptability of nightjars to the challenges posed by global warming and the effects of light pollution on the behavior of nocturnal species, respectively.
Overall, the diverse activities of this fourth edition strengthened an initiative that continues to grow in participation each year.
Thanks to Carlos Comacho for the above Conference Summary.
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