The protection phase for threatened bird species has now started again in the Loisach-Kochelsee-Moor.
They nest in the meadow.
You are asked not to run or cycle cross-country and, above all, to keep dogs on a leash.
The protected areas are marked.
Benediktbeuern / Kochel am See / Schlehdorf
- From March 20th to July 15th there are entry rules for certain areas in the Loisach-Kochelsee-Moor.
The area is one of the largest and most important areas for birds in Europe.
Numerous bird species that are critically endangered live here and from now on they nest and breed in the meadows ("meadow breeders").
These are, for example, whinchat, common snipe, lapwing, skylark, meadow pipit, quail and corncrake as well as the curlew.
Dog owners are encouraged to pick up what left behind from their four-legged friends
Elisabeth Pleyl from the Center for Environment and Culture (ZUK) at Benediktbeuern Monastery is the area supervisor for the Loisach-Kochelsee moor.
Among other things, she works together with the voluntary members of the Kochel nature conservation watch (it consists of members of the mountain rescue service) and three trained meadow breeder advisors from the State Office for the Environment.
They are all regularly on site, observe the situation and speak to people when they enter the protection zones or let their dogs run free.
“An approximation of three to four hundred meters is enough for a bird to feel disturbed, fly up and leave the nest,” explains Pleyl.
It is also very important that dog owners collect the droppings of their animals.
80 breeding pairs of the whinchat counted
All meadow breeders are threatened with extinction.
"We also reflect the nationwide trend," says Pleyl.
“Fifteen years ago we had twice as many populations.” She mentions the whinchat as an example.
Here in the Loisach-Kochelsee-Moor there is even the largest group in Bavaria.
When mapping last year around 80 breeding pairs were counted, but the trend is falling sharply.
"All meadow breeders in our region are already on the red list." This is due to the decline in the food source, i.e. insects.
At 12.5 centimeters, the whinchat is slightly smaller than a sparrow.
The head is brown-black, throat and chest are orange-yellow and the belly is whitish.
They like to sit on pasture fences or tall perennials to sing and to hunt for insects.
In winter it lives south of the Sahara in the savannahs of Africa.
“It is astonishing that despite this long and long journey, almost 30 percent survive the return flight every spring,” says Pleyl.
It is all the more fatal that survival is now seriously threatened here too.
Recently achieved breeding success with the Großer Bachvogel
The whinchat builds its nest in the meadow, preferably in a litter meadow, and breeds there for two weeks.
Once the young have hatched, they stay in the nest for two more weeks.
Then they are particularly at risk for predators such as foxes and martens.
A few weeks ago, debushing measures were carried out, especially in the Schlehdorf area, reports Pleyl.
Pleyl emphasizes that this is done with careful consideration of the other animals living in the moor.
The background is that in some places these trees are used as hiding places for foxes, buzzards or kites, which is an additional danger for the small birds.
Individual clutches, says Pleyl, would be observed very closely.
It is true that the Curlew was recently successful in breeding, "but in total it is far too little".
You have to fight for the meadow breeders every year, says the area supervisor.
Cooperation with farmers: the nests are saved before mowing
Farmers also play an important role in this.
Last summer there were agreements before the mowing: The volunteers were notified and walked around the areas before the mowing, accompanied the farmers and were able to save nests.
“That worked well,” says Pleyl.
It's time-consuming, but it's worth it.
Farmers would also help by leaving lots of fallow strips in late mowing meadows.
Pleyl is grateful: "We conservationists also know how much pressure farmers are under."
However, the many walkers and cyclists in the moss also bear a great responsibility.
Pleyl appeals to respect the blocked paths.
Everyone can help by observing the rules or drawing the attention of others to them.
There are information boards for the birds all over the moor.
"The more people participate, the greater the chance that the birds will survive."
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