The last inventories at the turn of the year are done, all shelves and stocks are properly listed. Because all that matters are numbers. With this in mind, the year 2022, which has just begun, will continue. The 2022 census is just around the corner, and the census will take place in May. Actually a simple exercise, because unlike the first census on earth at the time of the Roman emperor Augustus, you don’t have to knock on every door today. The most exciting question is whether the district of Munich will crack the 350,000 mark, under which it remained very close (as of December 2020).
Another census is already in progress, the result of which is being waited with much more interest. The nationwide “Hour of Winter Birds” campaign has been running since Epiphany and until Sunday, and all friends of blackbirds, thrushes, finches and starlings are encouraged to spend an hour watching the birdie on the bird feeder, in the garden, on the balcony or counting and reporting in the park.
The stupid thing about it is the constant flying around of the air dwellers. Instead of sitting neatly in a row on a power line, they whiz past the balcony at home with no apparent order. And because nobody wears a name tag, the censor no longer knows in the end whether he has counted twelve blackbirds, or one blackbird for the twelfth time. On the other hand, it is easier for him to count lapwing and lovebirds. The result after an hour: zero. You shouldn’t be surprised, since 1980 the population of these two Luftikusse has decreased by more than 90 percent. On the other hand, the number of sparrows that sailed past in team strength was pleasing: 25 after 60 minutes.
That sounds like a lot, but a few weeks ago you could have done twice as many lines, because back then the hedge was still standing, which now fell victim to the neighbour’s intention to build. No hedge, no reliable protection against predators – since that day the bird population in the garden has at least quartered. Whereas before whole flocks of songbirds and other feathered contemporaries attacked the bird feeder, today only a few birds get grains to fly. It is amazing what direct consequences human intervention in the habitats of other inhabitants of the earth has. In any case, it is a rather meager result of the counting action that will be reported. And the federal result will probably also show that the ranks of the birds have thinned again.
It is all the more urgent that the “Blooming District” initiative catches the eye of garden owners, farmers and gardeners. The birds would sing a serenade every day in gratitude.