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 bird with fewer than a handful of sightings since the 1950s—was found hiding behind a bin. But here's where it gets even more fascinating... This isn't just any bird; it's a nocturnal creature whose haunting call once inspired Irish speakers to name it túirne lín, meaning 'spinning wheel.' So, how did this elusive bird end up in a bustling city, and what does its discovery mean for its survival?
Office workers on Lisburn Road initially mistook the bird for a bird of prey, prompting them to call wildlife rescuer Debbie Nelson, affectionately known as Debbie Doolittle. To her astonishment, she identified it as a nightjar—a species so scarce in Northern Ireland that its reappearance feels like a small miracle. 'They were about to throw some rubbish in the bin when they spotted it,' she told BBC News NI. Doolittle suspects the bird may have been disoriented by street lights, a common issue for nocturnal birds that can lead to collisions with buildings.
Doolittle carefully transported the nightjar to her rescue center in Antrim, where she created a safe haven resembling its natural habitat. 'We used branches, logs, and wood chip bark to make it feel secure,' she explained. After feeding it a diet of 'lots of juicy bugs,' she released it the next day, ensuring the location remained secret to avoid overwhelming the bird with onlookers. 'It’s incredibly rewarding to give these creatures a second chance,' she reflected, calling this her 'most special' rescue of 2025.
And this is the part most people miss... Nightjars were once a common sight and sound across Ireland, their distinctive churring call a familiar part of the landscape. But by the late 20th century, their numbers had plummeted due to habitat loss and pesticide use, which decimated their insect-based food supply. John Lusby, Conservation Officer at Birdwatch Ireland, notes that the 'general consensus' a few years ago was that nightjars had vanished from the island. However, a 2024 survey in counties Kilkenny and Wexford revealed a tiny population clinging to existence in Ireland's 'last remaining stronghold.'
The survey, which recorded hundreds of hours of birdsong, confirmed nightjar calls at two sites but found only one breeding pair. A follow-up study in Waterford and Tipperary captured footage of their nest using a drone with a thermal sensor, though its location remains a closely guarded secret. Lusby admits he was stunned to hear of the Belfast sighting, suggesting nightjars may be more widespread than researchers realize, simply staying 'under the radar.'
But here's the controversial question... Could this Belfast nightjar be a sign of a quiet comeback, or is it just a rare anomaly? While conservation efforts, like the restoration of lowland heath, have helped nightjar populations recover in parts of the UK, their future in Ireland remains uncertain. The RSPB describes the Belfast discovery as 'exciting,' but with no confirmed breeding in Northern Ireland recently, the species' long-term survival here hangs in the balance.
Nightjars are small, nocturnal birds with large dark eyes, pointed wings, and long tails. Their mottled brown, grey, beige, and white feathers provide perfect camouflage in heaths and moors, while their wide mouths allow them to snatch insects mid-flight. The RSPB likens their flight to that of a falcon and their call to 'a strange clockwork toy steadily unwinding.'
These birds migrate to the UK and Ireland in late spring, favoring southern England, though small numbers appear in Wales, northern England, and southwestern Scotland. A few have also been spotted in southeastern Ireland. By late summer, they return to sub-Saharan Africa. While UK populations declined by 51% between 1972 and 1992 due to habitat loss, recent conservation efforts have shown promise.
So, what do you think? Is the Belfast nightjar a symbol of hope or a reminder of how fragile its existence remains? Let us know in the comments—we’d love to hear your thoughts!
