Nest building at lofty heights: Two swifts have moved into one of the boxes. © City of Geretsried
Swifts and starlings have moved into the nesting boxes at the town hall. A camera observes the birds and shows animal renovations.
Geretsried – Swifts and starlings have moved back into the nesting boxes at the town hall. Recently, there have even been exclusive insights into the lives of the birds – without disturbing them. Two boxes were equipped with a camera.
Exclusive insights via webcam: The subtenants of the Geretsried town hall
According to the city administration, there are a total of five nesting boxes on the outer façade under the roof of the town hall. At the beginning of May, the first swift moved into quarters. For an easier start in nest building, the feathered lodger already found a small ring of dried grass as a basis. On the Pentecost weekend, the female swift laid three eggs. Alternating with its partner, the clutch is now incubated for up to 21 days. "The swift is specialized in flight," the administration says. "The nesting site must therefore be at least six meters high." Throughout Germany, the swift is already on the warning list for endangered bird species.
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The second nest box is inhabited by a pair of starlings – the offspring have already hatched there. Through the branches of the nest, the small orange beaks of the bird chicks can be seen. The starlings are busy feeding. This bird species is now also considered endangered.
Since 2007, birdhouses have been hanging at the town hall. On the initiative of Dr. Anton Vogel from the State Association for the Protection of Birds (LBV), two swift boxes were first hung up – he had built the dwellings himself. Two more boxes followed in 2019, and the fifth in April of this year.
According to its own information, the city of Geretsried works closely with the LBV and the Bund Naturschutz (BN). "Walter Wintersberger, chairman of the LBA in the district, and Manfred Kröninger, district chairman of the BN, support us with their expertise in our projects," says the city. If you want, you can watch the feathered town hall visitors around the clock.
Information on the Internet: www.geretsried.de/nistkasten-live
By the way: Everything from the region can also be found in our regular Wolfratshausen-Geretsried newsletter.