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"Hour of the Winter Birds": Goose in first place, followed by tit and sparrow

2023-02-14T10:17:40.384Z


The participants counted fewer birds in the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen than in previous years. Is the result cause for concern?


The participants counted fewer birds in the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen than in previous years.

Is the result cause for concern?

Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen – who is actually chirping in the garden?

Bird lovers could find out at the “Hour of the Winter Birds”.

Anyone who wanted to could take part in the Bavaria-wide campaign by the State Association for Bird Protection (LBV) and the Nature Conservation Association and watch birds in front of their own doorstep for an hour from January 6th to 8th.

The results were recently published.

In the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen: Fewer birds than in previous years

Throughout Bavaria, 21,068 people took part in the campaign this year.

They counted an average of 29.8 birds per garden.

In the district, 356 bird watchers participated and spotted 36.29 birds per garden, a total of 7512 animals.

In 2022 there were 8832 birds, in 2021 13 476.

You can find more current news from the region around Bad Tölz at Merkur.de/Bad Tölz.

Canada goose takes first place

The first place, i.e. the species that was sighted most frequently in the district this year, is surprising.

Hardly anyone spotted them at the bird feeder in the garden.

It's the Canada goose.

Sabine Tappertzhofen, head of the LBV office in the district, suspects: "Obviously one or more people have counted this year, for example at Lake Starnberg, where many Canada geese live." Because the "Hour of the Winter Birds" is a so-called "Citizen Science" project is a "citizen science" project in which people without a scientific background can collect data, every citizen can count wherever they want.

House sparrows are way ahead, but don't let that fool you

In second and third place are the great tit and the house sparrow, also known as the sparrow.

The latter has always been at the forefront over the past four years, taking first or second place.

But don't let the place on the winner's podium fool you.

“It is one of the species that is declining significantly,” says Tappertzhofen.

House sparrows used to be found more frequently in the field, explains the qualified biologist.

Today, on the other hand, the landscape is tidier.

"They find fewer grains and their breeding grounds are closed, for example due to roof renovations." Nevertheless, the observers counted many house sparrows because the small birds are not shy of people and are adaptable.

Birds found enough food in the forests this year

Overall fewer birds were counted this year.

“The main reason is probably the rich supply of forage in the forests this year.

With the mild temperatures during the campaign, the birds could easily take advantage of this offer,” explains Tappertzhofen.

So they didn't have to come into the gardens to eat.

So you don't need to worry at first.

"However," says Tappertzhofen, "there is a slight long-term downward trend." But it is not dramatic.

On the other hand, there have been massive declines in farmland birds and meadow breeders such as the lark, the meadow pipit and the whinchat.

"But they are hardly or not at all recorded in this count."

Birds feel comfortable with native plants

The good thing: everyone can do something to make birds feel comfortable in their own garden.

"It doesn't hurt to be a 'lazy gardener'," explains the qualified biologist.

In general, native plants should be preferred because more insect species are adapted to them.

"An insect-rich garden where the birds can find cover is very beneficial," explains Tappertzhofen.

In addition, unfilled flowers are usually richer in nectar than filled ones, which in turn has a positive effect on the insects, which then serve as food for young birds.

According to Tappertzhofen, good examples are dog rose and elderberry.

They are better than double hybrid tea roses and thuja.

Winterling and winter jasmine serve the first bees.

Ivy is also good, because it blooms when little else is blooming and bears fruit when the birds need a lot of food.

In addition, it offers protection.

"Diversity is important."

The "Hour of the Winter Birds" is an important event for Tappertzhofen.

"These counts give a good picture of the garden and maybe woodland birds that live here in winter," she explains.

This is important to capture long-term trends.

Actions like this train the observer's perspective

But such actions are important for another reason: They train the perspective of the observer.

“It is a special experience not only to see that there are different birds at the feeder, but also to spend an hour looking carefully at how many blue-capped tits are there at once, and how many of the black-capped ones,” like Tappertzhofen.

The next census

will take place from May 12th to 14th.

Then the people in Bavaria can record the breeding birds in the gardens and parks at the "Hour of the Garden Birds".

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Source: merkur

All news articles on 2023-02-14

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