Hilpoltstein (dpa / lby) - According to the State Association for Bird Protection (LBV), the songbird Ortolan is occurring less and less in Bavaria. When counting, only about 100 breeding pairs were registered in the districts of Schweinfurt, Kitzingen, Würzburg and Neustadt an der Aisch, the LBV announced on Monday in Hilpoltstein in central Franconia (Roth district).
The last populations of the Ortolan (Emberiza hortulana) are found in southern Germany in the agricultural landscape of Mainfranken. These apparently shrank dramatically, according to the state association. The drought and heat in this year's breeding season actually created favorable conditions.
According to LBV information, the Ortolan, which is also called "garden bunting", is currently retreating to its winter quarters in subtropical regions of West Africa. Ortolan have a grey-green head, yellow throat and yellow eye rings. Below the head area they are cinnamon brown. The bird marks its territory with its song. According to experts, the birds keep returning to the same place.
In cooperation with farmers in Lower and Middle Franconia, the LBV tries to protect it. For example, the farmers grow strips of grain, flowering mixtures and, on a small area, potatoes and cabbage so that the Ortolan can find enough food.
