Bavaria: Birds in Bavaria's gardens are rare

Hilpoltstein (dpa / lby) - Fewer birds have recently been seen in Bavaria's gardens than in the previous year.

Bavaria: Birds in Bavaria's gardens are rare

Hilpoltstein (dpa / lby) - Fewer birds have recently been seen in Bavaria's gardens than in the previous year. This shows an interim balance of the hands-on campaign "Hour of the Winter Birds" of the State Association for Bird and Nature Conservation (LBV) and the Nature Conservation Association Germany (Nabu), as the LBV announced on Monday in Hilpoltstein in central Franconia.

Citizens were asked to count the birds in the garden, on the balcony, in front of the window or in the park for an hour last weekend and to report them online or in writing. On average, almost 31 winter birds were sighted. The value is one bird below the previous low from 2021.

The house sparrow was observed most frequently, followed by the great tit and the tree sparrow. The blue tit takes fourth place, ahead of the blackbird in fifth place.

The reasons for the decline are manifold. On the one hand, "the warm temperatures affect the natural food supply for the birds," said LBV biologist Angelika Nelson. The animals are currently finding enough food in nature, since seeds and fruits are not covered with ice and snow. In addition, some birds had already begun their spring-like territorial behavior and chased their rivals out of the gardens.

On the other hand, for oak, beech and spruce trees, the past year has produced excessive food in the birds' natural habitat.

The average number of birds observed in Bavaria has been steadily declining for years. According to the information, the long-term trend of general bird deaths in settlements also plays a role.