No more birdsong in the garden: where have all the birds gone?
Created: 09/09/2022, 15:14
By: Sebastian Richter
It has become quiet in German gardens.
In many places there is no bird chirping - the possible reasons are numerous.
Kassel - "Where have our birds gone?" This question has reached the Nature Conservation Union Hessen (Nabu) more and more often in recent weeks.
After the chirping could still be heard everywhere in the garden in spring, it has become quiet in many places.
What's behind it?
According to Nabu Hessen, it is completely normal that it has become quieter in German gardens in summer.
"The song of the birds has two functions: to attract a partner and to mark the breeding territory," explains Bernd Petri, deputy state chairman of Nabu Hessen in a statement.
Outside the breeding season, it is not necessary for the birds to sing.
As soon as the chicks leave the nest from mid-July, their parents no longer have to defend the nest against conspecifics - instead, the singing attracts potential predators.
Incubators and nesting aids are a must if you want to keep birds in your own garden.
(Archive photo) © Patrick Pleul/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa/Symbolbild
No birds in the garden: In summer, the chirping disappears from many gardens
There is another reason why the birds can be heard mainly in spring, as reported by Nabu: After the end of the rearing of the young, the so-called moult begins in most species.
The birds exchange all their feathers and can therefore fly less well.
So they hide the birds.
During this time, "the impression easily arises that the birds have simply disappeared," says the ornithologist Petri.
However, if you help the birds to create their own retreat, there is a good chance that the birds will stay in the garden.
A natural garden is particularly important for this, as the BUND nature conservation association reports.
As parks and farmland become tidier, many birds lack space to build their nests.
BUND recommends creating natural nesting aids.
"Prickly bushes such as sloe, blackberry or wild rose offer birds a safe way to raise their chicks," says BUND.
Artificial nesting aids are also helpful for the birds.
Garden without birdsong: How to attract the birds
The right food is also important for birds to feel comfortable.
Bird expert Maria Becker has numerous tips on how to convince the birds to stay.
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Tips for a bird-friendly garden
Natural garden design
Create nesting sites with native shrubs
pay attention to diversity
Set up compost and leaf piles
avoid using pesticides
Source: Nabo
Bird deaths in Germany: Decline in the bird population in Germany
If you think back to your own childhood, it can also seem as if there used to be more birdsong in general.
In fact, the bird population has declined overall.
Above all, the three typical field birds have become fewer: since 1980 there have been 51 percent fewer skylarks, the partridge has decreased by 91 percent and the lapwing has even declined by 93 percent.
(Status: 2022, source: Nabu).
Wind turbines, natural predators and hunting are often blamed for the decline in bird populations.
However, according to Nabu, the main reason is that not enough young birds are being raised.
This is mainly due to the fact that the "birds can no longer find a suitable habitat and no longer enough food".
In order to protect bird species, it is forbidden to cut the hedge in the garden even in summer: this disturbs nesting animals.
Severe penalties are threatened.
(pron)
