The first Dutch Black-Tailed Godwit eggs of the season were found on last Sunday by 12-year-old Tom Kuijpers in Schipluiden, South Holland. In the following days more early eggs were discovered by volunteers.
More than half of the world Black-Tailed Godwit population breeds in the Netherlands. The typical Dutch landscape – meadows, grazing cows and clean water – are an ideal breeding area for the Godwits. The birds breed in open grassland with a plentiful food supply.
Each spring, volunteers search Dutch pastures and fields for Godwit nests. The nests are marked so that farmers will not disturb the area and the birds have the best opportunity to raise their chicks.
The organization Land van Wijk & Wouden has promoted the cause of the Godwit in the area between Zoetermeer, Leiden and Alphen aan den Rijn. Because of their measures, the Godwit population in this area has stabilized, while in the rest of the Netherlands the population has fallen dramatically.
Source: Eerste Grutto-eieren
