"Careless photography" harassed kingfishers in Bavaria - social networks exacerbate the problem

Created: 04/16/2022Updated: 04/16/2022, 11:40 am

By: Katarina Amtmann

"Careless photography" puts kingfishers under pressure in Bamberg (archive image 9 © Patrick Pleul/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++

Kingfishers are on the red list of endangered species in Bavaria.

In Bamberg, "careless photography" is now becoming a problem.

Bamberg - They are obviously a popular photo motif thanks to their unusual plumage - and are therefore in trouble: The climate and environmental office of the city of Bamberg is now warning against photographing kingfishers and scaring them away.

As the municipality announced, the problem was exacerbated by social networks.

"Careless photography" puts kingfishers under pressure in Bamberg

Sometimes sound dummies were even played to attract the animals.

However, this irritated the birds greatly because they feared territorial competition - which could lead to the brood being terminated.

One should therefore refrain from "carelessly photographing" the birds, especially during the mating and breeding season.

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Bavaria: kingfishers are on the red list of endangered species

Kingfishers are on the red list of endangered species in Bavaria.

The magnificent blue-green plumage on the back and head is particularly striking, according to the State Association for the Protection of Birds (LBV).

Seen from above, the iridescent colors look almost exactly like the moving water of a stream - a good camouflage for the animals.

According to the LBV, the kingfisher is one of the rare breeding birds in Bavaria.

Accordingly, it lives near rivers and streams or also at quarry ponds and ponds.