COUNTY naturalists are asking people to help them record sightings of elusive nightjars in the Forest and help work to encourage them to thrive.
Spokesman for Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Veronica Newport said the organisation was keen to use National Wildlife Week – May 31 to June 8 – to focus on the bird, which nests here during the summer months.
"It's one of the most elusive and enigmatic birds in the UK, but the Forest is considered a stronghold though even here we're only expecting around six breeding females this year," she said.
"We're conducting a nightjar walk which will give people a rare chance of sighting the bird with an expert guide, but otherwise people can help encourage greater populations by getting involved with the Dean Green Team, which helps to conserve and restore nightjar and other habitats in the area."
Wildlife Trust volunteer manager Sarah Killingbeck says the nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus, has an eerie churring song, loud and vibrant at close range. It used to be known as the 'goatsucker' because it was believe it drank milk from domestic animals. It arrives here in May from Africa and returns in August or September.
It emerges only at dusk when it begins to call and fly in search of moths and other insects. It nests on the ground and during daylight is camouflaged so well that it blends with scrubby ground or the branch of a tree. Known local nesting sites are Tidenham Chase and Oakenhill.
Regular breeding sites in the Forest are being monitored by local bird watchers and the objective in the Gloucestershire Biodiversity Action Plan is to achieve 10 breeding pairs in the county by 2005.
The nightjar walk takes place on Friday, June 6, at 8.30pm, meeting at the Plump Hill car park, opposite the signpost to the Wilderness Centre.
People are also welcome to help the Dean Green Team through the Wildlife Trust on 01452 383333.