Protecting our wildlife and habitats
Hengistbury Head is home to over 300 bird species and a rich variety of habitats - each needing careful protection. With so many visitors, it’s vital we tread lightly.
Ground-nesting birds
Some of our most vulnerable species nest directly on the ground. Please stick to paths and keep dogs under close control, especially during nesting season (March to August).
Skylarks
These grassland songbirds are in decline.
Their soaring, 30-minute-long songs can be heard from March to November.
Nightjars
Elusive and nocturnal, Nightjars nest in heathland. Listen for their eerie “churring” and wing-clapping displays at dusk, May to August. They migrate from sub-Saharan Africa each year.
Amazing journeys: bird migration
Some birds survive winter by migrating thousands of miles. Hengistbury Head is a vital stopover for many of them.
- Swallows fly nearly 6,000 miles to South Africa
- Cuckoos make a 10,000-mile round trip to equatorial Africa
- Ospreys and dunlin pass through on their way to breeding or wintering grounds
How do they do it?
- Some birds double their body weight before flying
- They can use stars, coastlines, magnetic fields and even smell to navigate
- Timing is critical - weather, wind, and breeding seasons all matter
- Young birds migrate with no prior experience - they know the route instinctively
The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) is satellite-tracking cuckoos to uncover more about these epic journeys.