Grief for Dieter Wend: The Storchenfather of Mörtitz has died!

Grief for Dieter Wend: The Storchenfather of Mörtitz has died!

A sad loss for the nature conservation community: Dieter Wend, known as the "Storchenfather", died in Mörtitz at the age of 66. Wend lived together with his family in the municipality of Doberschütz, where he was not only a loving father of four children, but also a passionate breeder. He inspired his younger brother Karsten Wend to step into the footsteps of a stork father. This created a very special connection between the two when the 13-year-old Karsten took responsibility for three orphaned young storks during his generation.

Dieter Wend was a key figure in bird protection, especially for the endangered type of quail king. He was the only breeder who received the breeding permit for this species from the Federal Office for Nature Conservation, which in Germany and Europe is considered to be threatened with extinction. His expertise and commitment went far beyond breeding; He gave specialist lectures, including in London, and advised facilities such as the Leipzig Zoo for important projects such as the occupation of the AfricanaVanne.

a life for nature

Dieter Wend managed up to twelve ponds and aviaries on his property in which he raised a variety of bird species. In particular, the difficult -to -tapping quail king, which is becoming increasingly rare in Switzerland and Germany, was important to him. According to [naturschutz.ch] (https://naturschutz.ch/news/aktion/wachtelkoenig-bitte- registration/147441), the way is dependent on species-rich and large-scale meadows in order to brood successfully and raise their offspring.

The endangerment of the quail king is due primarily to loss of habitat through intensive agriculture, drainage and the use of pesticides. These topics were central to Wend's work and commitment to preserve the habitat for these secret birds. The quail king (CREX CREX) is one of the strongly endangered species in Germany according to bfn.de and forms an important part of national species aid programs.

memories and commitment

Wend was not only known for his expertise, but also for his friendly and quiet tone. He was a popular interlocutor for nature conservation matters and the people in the community appreciated him for his willingness to help, even with electrical problems in the neighborhood.

His services were also recognized in the media: the MDR dedicated a program to him in which his passion for nature and his extraordinary contributions to species protection were emphasized. For example, zoo director Jörg Junhold appeared as a deck bird in the show.

On July 19, Dieter Wend is buried at the Mörtitz cemetery at 10 a.m. The community will remember him as a tireless fighter for nature conservation and a loving family man. His commitment to the quail king and many other bird species will be missed as well as its calm and level -headed being, which always created a place for nature where others only saw advertisements.