Nurturing Nature: Moonlight Challenge’s Commitment to Our Trails

The Moonlight Challenge serves as the primary funding stream for the Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue Team. Each year, the dedication and spirit of our incredible participants help raise essential funds to support our team in our volunteer efforts to assist injured and missing people in the mountains. We love what we do and are deeply committed to our work and the mountains.

Acknowledging Our Impact and Giving Back to the Land That Supports Us

While we’re passionate about what we do, we also recognise that our activities place some pressure on these cherished lands. That’s why, for the past four years, we’ve chosen to give something back.

Instead of distributing gift bags filled with small items to participants, we allocate this portion of the funds raised, towards meaningful conservation projects. This initiative has included:

2024 Conservation Effort: Protecting the Elusive Nightjar

A Nightjar_ photo by Mike Brown

This year, the Glen Team is thrilled to partner with BirdWatch Ireland to tackle another important conservation goal: supporting efforts to locate and protect the elusive Nightjar. This night-dwelling bird aligns perfectly with our event’s moonlit theme, bringing new focus to a species in need.

 

 

 

John Lusby, BirdWatch Ireland Project Officer, shares his excitement:

“We are incredibly grateful to receive the generous support of the Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue Team to expand our survey efforts for the elusive and nocturnal Nightjar in Ireland. This year, specialized surveys in the southeast confirmed that Nightjars remain a breeding species in Ireland. With the support of the Glen Team, we will be able to purchase acoustic recording equipment to survey potential habitats, including areas in Wicklow, in the coming breeding seasons.

Given that Nightjars exist in very low numbers here, locating and protecting remaining pairs is crucial. This support will help secure the future of this magical species in Ireland. Thank you to the Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue Team for supporting these efforts. We look forward to sharing the findings of our Nightjar surveys soon.”

Through the Moonlight Challenge, participants are not only contributing to mountain rescue but also helping to protect the very lands that provide the setting for this event. Together, we’re making a lasting impact on both people and nature.

 

Background on the Nightjar

The mysterious and elusive Nightjar is one of Ireland’s most intriguing birds. A summer visitor, it boasts a perfectly camouflaged, bark-like plumage, making it nearly impossible to spot during the day. It only reveals its presence after dark when the male performs its hypnotic ‘churring’ song—a sound once so familiar that the Nightjar earned the Irish name Túirne Lín, meaning “spinning-wheel.”

Historically, Nightjars were more common and widespread across Ireland, but their numbers have plummeted. Each May, fewer of these unique birds complete the long journey from their wintering grounds in Africa. Over recent decades, there have been only occasional records of Nightjar breeding, primarily in the south and southeast, leading many to believe the species was nearly lost.

However, a recent survey—coordinated by BirdWatch Ireland and supported by Kilkenny County Council, Wexford County Council, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund—has confirmed that the Nightjar still endures in the southeast, with a successful breeding attempt recorded.

 

Have a listen to the Nightjar, Túirne Lín