Bird protection in the State Research Station for fruit growing Heuchlingen

摘要

Over the past few years up to 62 nesting boxes for birds have been provided in the 35-hectares area of the State Research Station for fruit growing Heuchlingen (State Institute for Viticulture, Oenology and Fruit Technology Weinsberg (LVWO)) in orderto support several species of birds, especially cave breeders. Four species were found breeding in the one-hectare organically managed fruit orchard with six nesting boxes: Tree Sparrow Passer montanus L., Great Tit Parus major L., Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus L. and Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros Gmel. The Tree Sparrow with a number of seven breeding pairs and 30 fully-fledged nestlings was dominating in 2011. In 2005, during a period of mass propagation of winter moth Operophthera brumata L. the clutches of Blue Tits Parus caeruleus L. and Great Tits were clearly larger than the year before due to the food quantity. In addition to the songbirds, the Kestrel Falco tinnunculus L., a falcon that hunts mice, was supported by a nesting boxinstalled at the fruit storage building. It was breeding successfully the third time since 2007. The Common Buzzard Buteo buteo L., another raptor has frequently been breeding in a walnut tree. During the bird's breeding period the use of heavy machinery around the nesting area was stopped in order to avoid disturbance of the brood.