Do birds of prey need a technical start-up aid in order to be able to fly safely over the new south bypass in Maisach? Some conservationists demand that. Others categorically say no - at least until now.
Maisach - So-called raised poles for birds of prey are not that unusual. The constructions made of a long, vertical pole, on which a short cross-piece is mounted, can be found on various roads, but also on agricultural land. Birds of prey can land on it and, thanks to the high height of the poles, have a better departure option.
See food better
Above all, the seats offer the birds of prey a better view of their food: mice. From the farmer's perspective, such poles are helpful because they help the birds of prey to hunt the harmful rodents. The poles on the Maisacher Süd bypass are also challenged because it happens repeatedly that birds do not cross the road at a sufficient height when starting and then collide with cars or trucks.
Skylark at risk
Maisach Mayor Hans Seidl (CSU) confirms that this actually happens on request. However, not in excess and not more often than on other roads. Because the area is subject to particularly strict nature conservation, very special rules apply there, explains Seidl. Because the perches would also help the birds of prey to hunt the most protected breeders. For example, the skylark, which feels at home on the former air base. That's why the fences on the street should only have a certain height, explains Seidl.
Ban from office
The mayor knows: “We cannot attach seat poles here. Because the top nature conservation authority would immediately forbid us. "There would even be a risk that the office would have to remove the perches if any were installed." Basically, the FFH area is in a permanent weighing process. "We are constantly observing this and not just us," says Seidl.
compromise
In the meantime, Gerhard Wendl, a bird expert from Groebenzeller, has also started thinking about the topic. He reports that he accidentally counted 15 buzzards on the site the other day when he drove by accident. Wendl now proposes a compromise solution: one would have to erect the sit-up poles so that they can be set up and dismantled depending on the season.
Idea is being examined
So you can do justice to the protection of the ground breeders and still help the buzzards and kestrels, says Wendl. Because the birds of prey actually only stay on the former airbase site in the winter half of the year - and the larks leave the site at the end of October. Mayor Hans Seidl knows this idea and passed it on for review. If the upper nature conservation authority gives its approval, then "we will do it too". But only then.
Cars and motorbikes in the FFH area
Stress for the protected ground breeders arises not only from birds of prey, but also from people. Again and again, people watch their cars coming from the southern bypass into the FFH area and park their cars after a few hundred meters to go for a walk. In addition, it often happens that motorcross drivers chase their machines through the FFH area. Logically: The former military area, which had not been accessible for years, has an attraction - nevertheless, nature conservationists naturally consider it to be counterproductive, to say the least, when cars and motorbikes are out there.
Free-running dogs are also a problem. Mayor Hans Seidl says that the fence has already been extended a little to keep cars out. Also think about putting up positive signs instead of prohibitions, with explanations of how valuable the nature reserve is. All in all, Seidl is delighted with how much walkers and nature lovers perceive everything that happens on the site. "Sure, we moved the road into the natural area." You have to be sensitive to that - the famous permanent weighing process.