It is a Symbol of love – and highly endangered: the voice of The turtle loses space due to the agriculture becoming more and more life. In some countries, the hunting of the endangered species is considered as a Sport.
The turtle dove is a “bird of the year 2020”. The Bavarian state Confederation for the protection of birds (LBV) and the naturschutzbund (NABU), have announced. For the first Time a bird had been named, and stand as a globally endangered species on the global Red list, it said.
NABU-member of the Bureau, Heinz Kowalski said with a view on Germany: “Since 1980, we have lost almost 90 percent of this kind, all the land of turtle doves strokes are free.” Today, only of 12,500 to 22,000 pairs bred in this country. Most of the approximately 5.9 million pairs in Europe lived according to the figures, in Spain, France, Italy and Romania.
“Hardly suitable habitats”
As the reason for the decline is the natural protector of the agriculture. Due to the expansion of acreage, and the disappearance of nesting sites, and food and drinking places. Arable wild herbs, of which the turtle dove feeds mainly, would be eliminated with herbicides. Of chemically treated seed, the seed-eaters would be poison. “Our smallest dove is hardly suitable habitats,” said Kowalski.
“By the missing herb young lovebirds always less adulthood,” said NABU bird protection expert Eric newcomer. An additional threat for the population in Germany is the bird hunting in the Mediterranean. On your train in the Sahel South of the Sahara, the animals fly over France, Spain and Malta, where love-birds can legally be shot. “In some countries, the shooting of the highly endangered lovebirds is considered to be ‘Sport’ for your own pleasure,” said the newcomer.
The TCA-species protection officer Christiane Geidel, described the shooting of turtle doves as scandalous. The legal practice fell in the EU each year, more than 1.4 million copies of the victim. The stock can’t take this anymore proven. In may 2018, all member States of the EU have adopted a plan of action for the protection of the European turtle dove. Due to their poor conservation status, the EU initiated the Commission, however, against Spain and France in July, the infringement proceedings. Against four other member countries official complaints were determined.
Petition against the firing
In order to protect the pigeons, has launched the NABU a Petition with the Federal environment Minister, Svenja Schulze (SPD) for this to be moved to the permanent suspension of shooting permits in the EU member States.
The 25 to 28 inches large birds are colorful feathered and feed preferred by wild herbs and tree seeds. As the only Pigeon they are long-haul drivers. You leave between the end of July and beginning of October Europe to spend the winter South of the Sahara. The turtle dove has its name from its characteristic Gurr -. Traditionally, it has been in place since biblical times as a Symbol of love and fertility.
stu/se (dpa, afp)