May 2011
Butterfly measures auction
Money is urgently needed for our campaign Tienvoor12. Dutch Butterfly Conservation is full of ideas. The auction that took place at our National Butterfly Day proved to be an excellent fundraiser. Conservation
measures for each these twelve endangered species were linked with attractive proposals. Bidding was close and more than € 3000 was raised!
What is the diet of the nightjar?
The mysterious nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) hunts its prey of flying
insects at night. In order to be able to protect this bird effectively, we need to know where it catches its prey, and whether it has a preference. Research into the food given by the adults to their nestlings revealed that this species is largely dependent on moths in the Netherlands. Of the 59 species of macrolepidoptera that were identified, about 60% belonged to the Noctuidae, 10% to the Arctidae and surprisingly, only 8% to the Geometridae, while this is a large family. Also noteworthy was a relatively high proportion of Hepialidae (5%). An analysis was made of various ecological properties of the moths, including rarity, habitat choice and mobility. Comparison was also made between species making up the diet with those characteristic for the nightjar’s breeding habitat. As it hunts for food elsewhere, measures to increase the amount of prey need to take account of the distance from the nest to the foraging area.
Laatste wijziging: 9 mei 2011
