Cricky duck under pressure: hunting starts despite great danger!

Cricky duck under pressure: hunting starts despite great danger!

With the beginning of the duck hunting season in Austria in September, concern for the protection of endangered species increases. The cricket duck, which was appointed bird of the year in 2025, is very endangered. According to [Oekonews.at] (https://www2.oekonews.at/es-wer-jagd-blasen-auf-den-bukes-dogel-dogel-dogel-dogel-dogel-dogel, according to [Oekonews.at] there are currently fewer than 100 breeding pairs of this smallest ducky in Europe. The main threats to the crickets are the destruction of wetlands, climate change, as well as leisure activities on waters that are increasingly restricting their habitats.

Birdlife Austria therefore urgently demands measures to protect endangered bird species. Climate change not only has a direct impact on the crick mark, but also influences the habitats of other species. These developments make it clear that effective protective measures are essential to prevent the crickets and other endangered species in Austria.

The threat to the crick duck

The cricket (Anas Crecca) has reached the second highest population among the swimming tenders in Austria until the early 1980s. However, their stocks have dropped dramatically, especially because of the drainage of wetlands and the changes in the use of fish ponds. When visiting the paints in the Seewinkel in Burgenland, around 23,000 cricked ducks were spotted in September, which is a remarkable record. However, these numbers also show how important suitable habitats such as bogs, swamps and natural water are to cover the high energy requirements of these birds during the mouse and the train, oe3.orf.at.

The decline in habitats is also reinforced by climate change, which affects the areas on the southern edge of the distribution area of ​​the cricket. In order to ensure the survival of this kind, Birdlife demands the restoration of damaged wetlands and expects the EU to restrict hunting for endangered duck species, including the crick duck. In Austria, endangered duck species may only be hunted in six out of nine federal states.

The resistance to hunting

Despite the legal framework and the endangerment of the crickets, the hunting season begins, in which the spoonful, spit dent and whistle can be legally hunted in certain federal states. This ensures controversial discussions. Birdlife Austria emphasizes the need to introduce a total hunting stop for endangered bird species. The stocks should be stabilized by the renaturation and the protection of the breeding areas.

As the WWF reports in an analysis on the climate crisis, the destruction of wetlands is not only a threat to the cricket, but also has a generally negative effect on the environment. This also endangers the water supply and the preservation of biodiversity. Healthy soils and intact wetlands are crucial to store larger amounts of water during wet months and make it available in dry times. According to wwf.at, more and more areas are affected by drought in Austria, which also tightens the situation.

Overall, the challenges that the crickets and many other species face are not only to look at not only locally, but also globally. The connection between climate change, loss of habitat and die of species requires immediate action.