Urdaibai Bird Center: Reunion with an old friend – the nightjar B90538

Our volunteers will not forget the nocturnal banding session in Ereño on August 19, 2024. When they returned to the nets, they were reunited with an old friend... the nightjar B90538 was back in its territory. This specimen had been banded for the first time in 2023 as a juvenile.

The banding team not only had the opportunity to observe an adult male nightjar, but also banded a new juvenile. Considering how elusive nightjars are, this was a real stroke of luck and gave the group the opportunity to see the differences between an adult male and a juvenile, for example, the white spots on the wings and tail.

Each year, the data collected by the banding team provides information on the bird populations in Urdaibai and the health of each bird. It is essential for conservation, as it is a way to monitor populations and protect natural areas.

August 19 was a very interesting night and we hope to see these two nightjars again in 2025.