Hilpoltstein (dpa / lby) – Transmitters should help to protect the black-tailed godwit, which is threatened with extinction. For the first time this year, the State Association for the Protection of Birds (LBV) found six young meadow breeders in their hidden nests in the Altmühltal in the district of Ansbach and equipped them with small radio transmitters. As a result, the experts could determine the position of the chicks and move a mowing of the meadow so that the little black-tailed godwits are not harmed, said the area manager in the Altmühltal, Jan Heikens, on Wednesday.
According to the LBV, only 19 black-tailed godwit pairs bred in Bavaria last year. This means that the grey-brown bird with the long, distinctive beak is threatened with extinction. With the help of the transmitter, the conservationists also want to gain information about where black-tailed godwit families prefer to stay in order to improve protective measures.
“Increasingly extreme weather, frequent mowing, lack of food, disturbances from those seeking leisure time and many predators have been depressing black-tailed godwit populations throughout Europe for many years,” said Heikens. The transmitters could therefore not be a permanent solution. The black-tailed godwit in Bavaria only has a real chance if something changes quickly in the existing breeding areas. For this, the conditions on site would have to be improved in cooperation with farmers, communities and hunters, among other things.
