STATUS
No formal listing unrecognized as being in trouble, escaped attention of conservation community
Disjunct coastal, desert populations
Concerned about coastal one (should be listed?)
Trend (conjectural); substantial loss in the lower, coastal mesas and drainages (dry washes) ; local Extirpation probably fairly extensive
Spotty current distribution.
HABITAT NEEDS
1 pair per several hundred hectares?
Extremely mobile and migratory
Aerial foraging, over farmland, drawn to lights with bugs
Relatively level topography, naturally open (as opposed to disturbed open with weeds)
Cobbly ground substrate
Vernal pool soils (Dry)
Large block of habitat with low human, pet disturbance, seem sensitive to disturbance during nesting.
Coastal sage scrub with openness, dwarf Chaparral
Ground nester
CONCERNS
Natural density probably fairly low density?
Need large blocks of land for nesting
Vulnerability of nesting habitat to development
Most original habitat already lost
Road kill? Drawn to lights
Human and pet disturbance, seem sensitive to disturbance during nesting.
Unknown migration
Most knowledge based on desert populations (differences?)
Much natural history info unknown (renest after disturbance? How many broods? Migration, nest success?
Low nest success?
Grazing (trampling, secondarily vegetation changes caused by grazing; herbaceous growth)
Very few known breeding locations
Vulnerable to extirpation due to low density
Very unknown species
OBJECTIVES
Identify and preserve breeding locations
Increase number of individuals
Find ways to manage existing potential habitat better for nighthawks
ACTION
Find new breeding locations and protect
Identify suitable habitat, survey those
Identify mechanisms for density
Investigate historical distribution/density information; candidate for listing?
Investigate response to fire
Investigate weed control
Investigate taxonomy
Identify potential habitat and management practices to benefit nighthawks; eg., could landfills be managed for them?