Welcome wall sailor! New project started at the Speyerer Gymnasium

Welcome wall sailor! New project started at the Speyerer Gymnasium

Speyer, Deutschland - The high school on Kaiserdom in Speyer has started a new initiative to promote biodiversity. Under the direction of teacher Martina Steiger, nesting boxes for wall sailors were installed on the roof terrace. The measure was created in cooperation with the Nature Conservation Association of Germany (NABU) from Heidelberg, who actively supported the school. This welcome campaign was approved by the city as a building owner who provided five nesting boxes for a possible small colony of wall sailors.

The nesting boxes were financed privately and are intended to offer the wall sailors a protected breeding ground. An inspection of the school building showed suitable nesting opportunities, especially on the edges of the roof terrace. Wall sailors could theoretically move into the nesting boxes from mid -May, but at the beginning of June the boxes were still vacant. Those responsible remain optimistic and patient and rely on support from NABU fingers to attract the birds.

challenges and declines

Wall sailor usually return to Europe on time from the beginning of May, as reported NABU . The return flight of these long -distance pullers begins in mid -July, whereby the main train time lasts until the end of August. This year, however, the return was initially tough, which may be due to the cooler weather conditions. Nevertheless, a large wave of return came at the end of April, and the wall sailor can now be observed in many cities in Germany.

But the wall sailors are among the problem children of the domestic bird world. Their inventory has decreased significantly in recent years, with an annual decline of 6.7 %. Current numbers show that there are only 42 % of the original inventory. In northern federal states in particular, the stocks are alarming. The reasons for the decline include the loss of nesting options and the decline in flight insects.

The meaning of nesting boxes

The attachment of nesting boxes has become more important in recent years. They not only offer birds a nesting site, but also protection and warmth, even in winter. As explained on the nabu-web page , nesting boxes are particularly important if there are lacking natural nesting options. The concept also promotes the understanding of young people for the domestic wildlife.

The proper placement and maintenance of nesting boxes is crucial for their acceptance by the birds. NABU recommends installing the boxes at a height of 2 to 3 meters in partial shade and installing at least 10 meters when several boxes are intended for the same bird species.

As part of his project "Municipalities for Biological Diversity", to which the city of Speyer belongs, one hopes not only a stabilization of the wall sailing stock, but also greater awareness of bird protection in society. Headmistress Cosette Benz thanked the initiators and the supporters of the project, who benefits both the school and nature.