Animals
Small towns in the north use birds of prey against crows
Rooks nest in large colonies – the black bird groups are not welcome, at least in northern Germany. photo
© Steffen Fuessel/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa
They are loud and their legacies also cause resentment – but rooks may not be hunted. In Schleswig-Holstein, birds should therefore curb the bird problem.
Several small towns in Schleswig-Holstein want to curb the number of rooks with the help of birds of prey. Municipalities have to deal with large colonies of corvids and the associated problems such as noise pollution or droppings under the nests.
Since the beginning of February, falconer Herbert Boger has been coming three times a week with his animals to Kellinghusen, a small town on the Eider, to scare away crows.
“These measures have been carried out for three years and have at least resulted in the number of nests not increasing in recent years,” said Katja Nielsen from the city of Kellinghusen. Boger is also on duty with his falcons and buzzards in Wilster, about 30 kilometers away.
The rook is one of the specially protected species in Germany. It may not be hunted – and it may only be frightened under strict conditions and with permission.