Reduced Elite Combatants - Fewer audible signals emitted
In Thuringia, Germany, the number of birds counted during the "Hour of Garden Birds" has decreased since last year, according to the state association of the nature conservation association Nabu. Participants noted an average of 32.3 birds per garden or park in May, a drop from 33.5 last year and 41.4 ten years ago.
Nabu attributes the decline to various challenges confronting birds, such as habitat loss, insect decline, and drought. The organization's nature conservation officer for Thuringia, Marcus Orlamünder, advises garden owners to design their green spaces naturally, with the addition of dead wood for insects that serve as food for birds.
Over 2,300 participants in Thuringia contributed to the bird-counting event this year. The house sparrow was observed most frequently, followed by the starling, coal tit, blackbird, and blue tit. However, fewer of these species were spotted compared to last year.
Avian influenza (Bird Flu), a highly pathogenic virus that has affected wild bird populations across Germany, could be contributing to the decline in garden bird populations. Climate change and forest management practices have caused alterations in bird habitats, further negatively impacting garden birds [1][2].
[1] Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, (2022). Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Germany. Retrieved from https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/en/the-federal-ministry-for-the-environment/service-and-support/current-information/frequently-asked-questions-coronavirus-human-bacteria-and-virus-infections/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-hpaI-in-germany
[2] Deutscher Bundestag, (2021). Insect decline, bird populations, and the challenges of conservation: A brief explanation. Retrieved from https://dip21.bundestag.de/dip21/btd/19/045/1904506.pdf
The community could implement a policy that encourages garden owners to provide better habitats for birds through practices like incorporating dead wood and encouraging native plant growth, as advised by Nabu's nature conservation officer in Thuringia. Participants in the environmental-science field may explore solutions to curb avian population declines, such as addressing the threats posed by avian influenza, climate change, and altered bird habitats through vocational training and research in health-and-wellness and science.
