I did a nightjar survey in Sounthern PG County on Thursday night from about 
11:45 PM til a bit after 1:30 AM.  Conditions were perfect and it was a 
beautiful night, but I only had a nightjar at one stop.  Although I did not 
expect many, I was surprised there was only one stop with a nightjar.  I think 
all would agree the nightjars are in trouble and in decline across much of their 
range, but what is causing it?  Loss of habitat?  Light pollution?  Other natural 
causes?

Sadly, there has been a shocking amount of rural residential development in 
the last year along the area I surveyed.  This used to be some of the County's 
best privately owned wildlife habitat, and it was always quiet with a great 
variety of birds.  The County has a 3-part growth managment plan (in addition 
to zoning) where the most rural areas are designated as the "rural tier", which 
has the most stringent development standards.  The route I did was entirely in 
the "rural tier", yet the development along the route was staggering; many of 
the farms and open areas (far more than half) were blighted with either for 
sale signs or new homes under construction.

Jeff Shenot
Croom MD