Weilheimer demand: "You have to do something against the crows"

Created: 12/22/2022, 10:00 am

By: Catherine Hauser

Markus Loth (2nd from left) and Manfred Stork (left) discussed the petition and the open letter on the subject of "rooks" with Gordian Hermann (4th from right).

Deterrence devices purchased © ruder

800 citizens have signed the petition initiated by Gordian Hermann to scare the rooks from Weilheim.

Hermann and his comrades-in-arms recently gave this and an open letter to Mayor Markus Loth.

The protected birds are a plague for many in Weilheim.

Weilheim – The problem with the rooks, which are under nature protection, is well known in Weilheim.

And obviously many citizens are suffering from the colonies of crows that have now settled throughout the city.

Since June, Gordian Hermann and his comrades-in-arms have collected 800 signatures for their petition to scare away the rooks from Weilheim.

They recently handed over the signatures in the town hall together with an open letter to Mayor Markus Loth and the head of the building authority, Manfred Stork.

In the open letter, Hermann and his comrades-in-arms call for "the deterrence measures that have been attempted to be finally implemented consistently".

This includes, among other things, the complete elimination of triple forks in trees that are suitable as nesting sites for rookers, deterring them with the help of falconers and suitable birds of prey such as the desert buzzard.

The city of Weilheim must "consistently enforce the measures, even against the resistance of the nature conservation authorities," says the open letter - if necessary by taking legal action.

Other municipalities could also have enforced these measures.

It must end with the statement that the responsibilities lie with other authorities and that the city's "hands" are tied because of bird protection.

"The mayor and the city council must become politically active here, embrace this problem and fight for a solution," the open letter says.

The mayor and city council should coordinate with other affected municipalities in order to strive for joint action at a higher level "to change something about the protection status of the rooks".

The group around Hermann also demands that the complaints of the citizens should not be dismissed by the administration.

"This is a top priority and must be addressed politically, not administratively," the open letter says.

In addition, it is demanded that the affected citizens are involved in all discussions that deal with the topic of "rooks".

It cannot be that the city administration meets with bird conservationists and representatives of the nature conservation authorities and the people and institutions concerned are left out.

Both Loth and Stork stressed that the city would take all the steps it was allowed to take against the rooks and take deterrent measures to the extent and for as long as they were possible.

The city has already purchased two deterrent devices, which are always in use when appropriate measures are permitted.

Loth denies that the city could do more than it has done so far: "We have already dealt with the topic several times in the city council.

You can't blame us for not doing what we can."

Hermann and the affected citizens did not want to let that stand.

"You have to do something against the crows, it can't go on like this," said Hermann: "You have to work for it." If necessary, other means must be used.

He knows of municipalities that would risk a fine if they had to.

Stork explained that the crows should not be shot down.

"As long as they are under protection, we are not allowed to do anything," said Loth, adding that a municipality cannot be required to break the law: "You have to abide by the law.

Purchased deterrence devices