Habitat use by Nightingales in a scrub–woodland mosaic in central England

What is it about?

Nightingale populations have declined severely in the UK. The study conducted around the Paxton Pits (Environment Agency site) in Cambridgeshire by UEA MSc student Katherine Fraser and led by Chas Holt from the BTO, investigated habitat use by nightingale in a scrub-woodland mosaic. Locations of 29 song territories were related to habitat structure. Song territory density was greatest in scrub of 3-5m height, and in scrub patches bounded by dense foliage. After controlling for scrub height, further analysis showed nightingales vavoured scrub patches with moderate amounts of blackthorn, and that lacked rose. Seven radio-tracked nightingales had a mean home range area (95% kernel) of 1.1 ha, and showed greater use later in the breeding season of mature woodland (typically mature willow with a nettle understorey) than revealed by analysis of song territories at territory establishment.

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Why is it important?

These findings suggest that to provide suitable habitat for nightingale, older scrub (>5m) could be cut or layered to rejuvenate younger suitable structures, that blackthorn is favoured and rose (largely Rosa canina) avoided - mostly likely due to the greater foliage density of blackthorn. Scrub mosaics abutting or mixed among more mature woodland may be favourable.