Category Archives: Netherlands

Leiden Study: City Birds Sing A Different Tune

by Amy Posted on 15 December 2006

A recent study indicates that birds living in urban environments sing faster, shorter songs than their country counterparts. The study was conducted by Dr. Hans Slabbekoorn of the University of Leiden.

Songs of Great Tits in different European cities were recorded and compared to songs from the same species in nearby natural areas. City birds were found to use higher frequencies in their songs, and to sing faster.

Read more about this fascinating study.

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Posted in Behavior, Netherlands, Science & Tech | Leave a comment

Dutch Youth Sentenced For Cormorant Abuse

by Amy Posted on 9 December 2006

The juvenile court in Lelystad, the Netherlands, has sentenced three youths to public service for the abuse of two cormorants.

The youths, all younger than 21, dragged the birds behind motorized bikes and threw stones at them.

Two of the youths must perform 25 hours of pubic service. The third youth, who already had a record with the court, was given a sentence of 80 hours. A fourth suspect, an adult, is still to be tried. The birds were targeted because they depleted the fish population in the canals of Urk.

Source: Jongeren veroordeeld voor mishandeling aalscholvers

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Posted in Law, Netherlands | Leave a comment

Dutch Environment Groups Request More Money For Birds

by Amy Posted on 8 December 2006

Various environmental groups in the Netherlands have called on the Dutch parliament to invest money in bird protection. Last week Natuurmonumenten and the Dutch partner of BirdLife International, together with five other agencies, sent the strong message to the Minister of Landscape, Nature and Food Quality.

The number of meadow birds in the Netherlands is declining dramatically. The Meadow Bird Alliance (Weidevogelverbond) was created to slow or reverse this trend. On 15 June this year, various parties involved in the well-being of these birds created an action plan. Groups in attendance included forest rangers, land-management groups, volunteer groups and government agencies. The alliance’s plan hopes to halt the decline of meadow birds by 2010.

Public support for protecting the birds is great, in large part due to successful information campaigns conducted by various environmental groups over the years. The Netherlands is a great breeding ground for many migratory birds and therefore does have a regional and global responsibility to take care of the birds that breed and raise their young in Holland.

Source: Eensgezinde oproep aan Kamer: investeer in weidevogelbeheer

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Game Warden Arrested For Illegally Moving Pheasants

by Amy Posted on 6 December 2006

A 62-year-old game warden from Assen, the Netherlands, was arrested last week for having 40 pheasants in his car. The police were conducting a routine ‘control’ (random traffic stops) when an officer noticed moving gunnysacks in the backseat of the perpetrator’s car.

Ten sacks each held four living birds. The man was arrested for transporting the birds without having rings and not in proper cages. The warden was in possession of the birds for some days before being caught. It is thought that he planned to slaughter the birds for consumption or resell them.

The man risks losing his hunting license.

Source: Jachtopzichter rijdt rond met levende fazanten

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Track Dutch Geese Via www.Goosetrack.nl

by Amy Posted on 1 December 2006

Each year approximately 1.5 million geese overwinter in the Netherlands. The mild weather and abundance of meadows and fields make the birds feel at home. With such a large migratory goose population, the country has some responsibility in their welfare. Through an extensive ringing program, questions about the origins and habits of the geese can be answered.

The geese are ringed either around a leg or the neck. The markings are clear enough to be read through binoculars at a distance, to avoid the need to re-catch the same individuals multiple times.

The Goosetrack program will allow the public to contribute to the welfare of the Dutch geese by taking part via SMS and the Internet. Ring data can be sent to Goosetrack via SMS in the field. The site will open in the fall of 2006 and offer information about geese as well as the tracking information.

Source: Nederland is ganzenland

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Birds Don’t Migrate From Record Dutch Heat

by Amy Posted on 30 November 2006

Holland is experiencing the warmest fall season in three hundred years and the migratory birds that normally leave the area around this time aren’t going anywhere. Many migratory birds leave for the south of Europe at first frost. Lapwings, geese and song birds which should have migrated already have remained in Holland.

The mild weather has insured that the birds that have remained in the Netherlands have plenty to eat. Acorns and chestnuts are available in abundance. The warm temperatures also mean that birds don’t have to use extra energy to keep themselves warm.

Insect-eating birds have also had enough to eat in the mild autumn. The good fortunes of the birds remaining in northern Europe can change quickly once the first frost arrives.

Source: Vogels blijven langer door warm najaar

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Posted in Europe, Migration, Netherlands | Leave a comment

Duck Hunting Disallowed In Friesland

by Amy Posted on 23 November 2006

A judge in the Frisian town of Leeuwarden placed a ban on duck hunting last Friday. Frisian government officials had previously granted hunters the right to shoot wild ducks in case the birds might cause damage (to property). The Dutch wildlife protection group Faunabescherming found this allowance too vague and took it up with the courts.

The province must now draft a new law if it wishes to allow duck hunting. The law must be more clearly written.

Source: Streep door afschieten wilde eenden in Friesland

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Posted in Aside, Law, Netherlands | Leave a comment

Unprotected Dutch Natural Monument Is Deadly For Red Knots

by Amy Posted on 19 November 2006

The migratory path of the European Red Knot brings it to the Wadden Sea flats in the northern part of the Netherlands each year. There, the birds feed on cockles before continuing their migration, which can be up to 16,000 kilometers in distance. The flats are protected by two different acts, yet suction dredging was sanctioned by the Dutch authorities until 2004. As a result, the cockles’ meat has diminished significantly, causing a quarter of the Red Knot population to have died out. Read more about the Red Knots at New Scientist.

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Posted in Aside, Endangered, Migration, Netherlands | Leave a comment

Gull Nuisance Conference Coming To Leiden

by Amy Posted on 26 October 2006

On November 1st the Dutch city of Leiden will host an international conference. The subject: Gull nuisance in city environments. Representatives from cities in the Netherlands and abroad will be present, along with city biologists and the Dutch partner of BirdLife International, Vogelbescherming.

Leiden is not alone as a city whose citizens complain of resident gulls. The birds open garbage containers in search of food and in the breeding season cause noise pollution as they seek mates and protect their young. Leiden has tried employing raptors and removing gull eggs from nests but these solutions did not significantly reduce the nuisance caused by the birds.

During the conference, the experts will exchange ideas and brainstorm solutions to gull nuisance problems. A new survey in cooperation with the University of Leiden is also planned. Political party CDA will propose discussion on two plans: using falcons to scare gulls away and dipping the gull eggs with oil.

City alderman John Steegh has sought an exemption from the Flora and Fauna law in order to fight the gulls by killing them, a plan opposed by animal rights groups. After the conference Steegh will decide how to proceed.

Source: Leiden houdt conferentie over meeuwenoverlast

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Sixteen Dead Birds Found In Helmond Pond

by Amy Posted on 24 October 2006

In a small pond in the Dutch city of Helmond, an animal ambulance worker has found sixteen dead birds. The victims included ducks, geese, swans and gulls. The cause of death is not yet known.

Ambulance workers and firefighters removed the birds from the pond. The Dutch Food and Goods Authority will examine the birds to determine the cause of death. The results are expected next week.

Source: Zestien dode vogels in vijver Helmond

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