The evaluation of an annual counting action points out that in Germany’s gardens and Parks living in this year, fewer birds than in previous years. Tens of thousands of nature lovers, reported in the January average of 37 individual animals they observed at the counting action “hour of the winter birds” within 60 minutes, informed of the nature protection Federation of Germany (Nabu) on Wednesday. “This is the second lowest number after the record minus 34.4 in the year 2017”, said national managing Director Leif Miller. 2011 had been just reported to 46 birds per garden. To see the most in 2019, House sparrows, great tit, tree Sparrow, blue tit and Blackbird.
concern for the Blackbird
Worried about the Nabu bird conservationists, especially the Blackbird. Only 2.67 birds per garden were counted in 2019, the lowest result ever. “The very dry July 2018 was bad for the Survival of the young birds, as the blackbirds were unlikely to find earthworms,” said Nabu expert Lars Lachmann. But the main reason could be the in the summer of 2018 rampant Usutu epidemic. The Virus from Africa and was probably introduced via migratory birds, since the mid-nineties for smaller outbreaks among birds in Europe, often accompanied with a Blackbird die.
The reason for the increased Absence of the birds could be the relatively mild Winter. “So less birds in the gardens, because they are found in snow-free forests, enough to eat,” added Miller. Whether an actual decline in the stocks could be the cause, should be monitored closely. This year 138 000 nature had discovered lovers the results of their counts to the Nabu. This was a new record for participants. The “citizen science”-hands-on-action had taken place in the year 2011, for the first time.
visitors such as titmice Less visit from the North
especially the classic Chuck house, blue and marsh Tits, and fir were Tits in this Winter, rare to see. However, the Numbers of other forest birds such as nuthatches, jays, great spotted woodpeckers and bullfinches are lower than the long term average. Apparently less birds from the North and the East of Europe had come to Germany, as the Winter was in all Europe has so far been rather mild, concludes the Nabu. In the summer, there will be, as every year, an “hour of garden birds” with a similar concept.
According to another study, the number of the field and birds in Europe Showed decreased in the last decades dramatically. The stock declined from the beginning of the censuses from 1980 to 2016 and 57 percent, such as from data of the European bird monitoring programme PECBMS wide. Of the decline of the lapwing, and the gold Bunting, a typical inhabitant of the fields with arable and grassland were affected, for example.
agriculture is bad for birds
As the main reason for the development of Petr Vorisek, who is involved in the project, the intensification of agriculture. “You should agri-align subsidies so that a close-to-nature agriculture will be promoted,” said the zoologist from the Czech Ornitologi society on Wednesday. In addition, the effects of climate change are becoming more noticeable.
For the study, data from 28 countries were worn to about 170 species. In Europe, thousands of volunteers took part in the capture of breeding birds. According to the Environmental protection Agency, is used in Germany, more than half of the area of land economically.
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citizen science action “hour of the winter birds” will start
Far better than the field of birds was the forest birds whose population declined in the observed period only by six percent. A moderate decrease was titmice, among other things, in the case of Fir, alder zeisigen and to capture winter gold chicken. The number of grey woodpeckers and nuthatches increased even slightly. (dpa)
