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 controversial... Could this discovery challenge our understanding of the nightjar's presence in the region, or is it just a fluke? Let's dive in.
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, it turned out to be a nightjar, a species she hadn't expected to encounter in her lifetime. 'They were about to throw some rubbish into the bin when they spotted it,' she told BBC News NI. Doolittle explained that nocturnal birds like the nightjar can become disoriented by street lights, often colliding with buildings—a fate this one narrowly avoided.
Doolittle carefully transported the bird to her rescue center in Antrim, where she created a safe haven resembling a forest floor, complete with branches, logs, and wood chip bark. She fed it a diet of 'lots of juicy bugs' to help it regain strength. And this is the part most people miss... The bird's release was kept top-secret to avoid attracting crowds of birdwatchers, which could have scared it. 'It's incredibly rewarding to give these creatures a second chance,' Doolittle shared.
This rescue, which occurred in September but was only recently shared, was dubbed Doolittle's 'most special' of 2025. She described it as a 'once in a lifetime' experience, capturing the moment the bird rested in her hand before being placed in a specially prepared crate. Her dedication is no small feat—last year alone, her organization helped over 2,000 animals.
But why are nightjars so rare? John Lusby, Conservation Officer at Birdwatch Ireland, attributes their decline to habitat loss and pesticide use, as nightjars primarily feed on insects. Their distinctive churring call, once so familiar it inspired the Irish name túirne lín (spinning wheel), has become a rarity. A 2024 report suggested nightjars had all but disappeared from Ireland, but a survey coordinated by Lusby found a tiny population in the southeast, the 'last remaining stronghold.'
The study, focused on counties Kilkenny and Wexford, recorded nightjar calls at two sites, though only one breeding pair was confirmed. A follow-up study in Waterford and Tipperary captured footage of their nest using a drone with a thermal sensor, keeping the location secret to protect the birds. Lusby was surprised by the Belfast sighting, noting that nightjars often 'fly under the radar' and may exist in small, undiscovered pockets.
Nightjars are small, nocturnal birds with large dark eyes, pointed wings, and long tails. Their mottled brown, grey, beige, and white feathers provide camouflage in heaths and moors. The RSPB describes their call as resembling 'a strange clockwork toy steadily unwinding.' Migrating to the UK and Ireland in late spring, they favor southern England but have been spotted in Wales, northern England, and southwestern Scotland. A few have also been detected in southeast Ireland before returning to sub-Saharan Africa in late summer.
The UK's nightjar population plummeted by 51% between 1972 and 1992 due to habitat loss, but conservation efforts, including lowland heath restoration, have helped numbers rebound. Here’s a thought-provoking question: Could this Belfast sighting be a sign of a broader, unnoticed recovery, or is it merely an isolated incident? Share your thoughts in the comments—we'd love to hear your take!
