600 new bird houses in Vienna: Hope for endangered species!

600 new bird houses in Vienna: Hope for endangered species!

In Vienna, an important project for promoting species protection was recently launched. In cooperation with the Nature Conservation Association and the Mariahilf district, the House of the Sea has created 600 new birdhouses to counter the worrying situation of the bird populations. Zoo Director Jeff Schreiner underlines the responsibility of the zoo in the area of ​​species protection, since the large bird death in the federal capital has accepted alarming proportions. The new nesting boxes were built together with the visitors to the zoo in a hands-on campaign, and the first copies were hung in the Eszterházypark, near the House of the Sea, how oe24 reported.

The need for such measures is all the more urgent in view of the global species death that has achieved dramatic proportions. According to a report by the environmental institute, the main causes of the loss of species are the destruction and cutting of habitats, pollution and the challenges of climate change. Industrial agriculture in particular has turned out to be an essential factor for species death in Europe, since it promotes habitat -destructive practices and contributes to the drastic decrease in bird populations, according to the analysis of the institute.

background to species death

The changes in agriculture have led to monotonous landscapes and sterile fields. In 2019, over 45,000 tons of field lifts were used in Germany, while more than 350,000 tons are sold in the EU annually. The report emphasizes that 83 % of the bird species in agricultural landscapes either endangered or are already in preliminary warning. Historically, agriculture has contributed to biodiversity, but industrialization has reversed this trend, which has lost about 60 % of vertebrates since 1970 and 25 % of bird species in Europe.

The population is particularly affected by Kiebitzen, skylarks and vineyards, whose stocks have decreased significantly in recent decades. These developments are an expression of a broader problem that also affects many other animal species. It is estimated that up to a million species are threatened with extinction, which also affects people directly, since the different species in ecosystems are dependent, as well as [Tagesschau] (https://www.tagesschau.de/wissen/klima/arten variety-biodiversitaet-artenben-klimawandel-101.html) reported.

survival strategies for biodiversity

To counteract species death, there are numerous suggestions. Among other things, this includes creating natural gardens, relying on biological foods and buying regionally. Active participation in environmental protection initiatives and the strengthening of environmental laws is also important. In its biodiversity strategy, the EU has set itself the goal of using 50 % fewer pesticides by 2030 and promoting 25 % biological agriculture.

The project of the new Vogelhäuser in Vienna is a small but important step towards a more comprehensive commitment to maintain biodiversity and domestic ecosystems. The list of nesting boxes and the integration of the population shows that each individual can make a contribution to species protection. Together it is possible to secure the habitats for birds and other species and to make a contribution to the restoration of biodiversity.