Brutal tradition: 35,000 caught birds in Austria every year!

Brutal tradition: 35,000 caught birds in Austria every year!

On December 1, 2024, the last traditional songbird exhibition took place in Bad Ischl, Upper Austrian, in which 130 wild birds were shown in tight cages. Despite the widespread ignorance that songbird traps are still practiced in Austria, the OÖ species protection regulation allows this method, especially for the Salzkammergut. According to the GDR. Martin Balluch, chairman of the animal welfare organization VGT, is not only outdated, but also cruel. "No one in Austria, except the bird catchers themselves, can approve of this bird trap," he said. This coping with the past is particularly worrying, since the caught birds have to remain in the cages by April 10 of the following year, which weakens their flight muscles, which ultimately makes it difficult to survive in nature.

incredible numbers and brutal fishing methods

The numbers are alarming: A total of around 500 registered bird catchers are active in Austria, which can hold up to 10 birds per capita as deck birds, which results in a potential number of up to 35,000 caught birds per season. These types of birds often come from illegal fan campaigns, since many captured birds do not fall under the approved species. Observations also show that more than half of the animals that get into the catch are not the permitted species, while the fishing birds are often caught directly in nature. Historically, bird traps have been practiced since the Stone Age, with the methods of simple loops to extensive fishing cages. Despite the EU Bird Protection Directive, which prohibits the catch of protected species, there are still massive violations of these regulations in some European countries, so that traditional fishing methods are still legitimized.

ddr. Balluch emphasizes that the bird trap is not only a barbaric action, but that the corresponding legal processes of the animal welfare associations, such as the notice of notification of animal welfare Austria, which indicates the inhumanity of these practices, have so far remained untreated by the Upper Austria State Administration Court. This form of cruelty to animals has been criticized by animal welfare associations for years, but the pressure on the legislative bodies remains low due to the anachronistic Tradition of bird posture.