Category Archives: Netherlands

Birds In The Spring Exhibit In Leiden

by Amy Posted on 1 March 2006

“Birds in the Spring” is the theme of a new exhibit in the visitor’s center of the Leidse Hout, a forest belonging to Leiden, the Netherlands. The exhibit officially opens today at 4pm during a ceremony conducted by alderman Rogier van der Sande.

The exhibit will focus on birds found in the woods around Leiden, but also on other birds found in city parks and gardens. Via photographs, drawings, audio recordings of bird songs, and models, visitors can learn about the birds and how to identify them.

A special focus will be placed on nests and birdhouses. Habitat for nests is scarce in the Leiden area so residents are encouraged to place birdhouses on their property. Visitors can learn the best places to hang birdhouses and other tips on attracting bird families to the garden.

The exhibit takes place in the Koetshuis visitor center. The center is open Wednesday 1pm to 5pm and Sunday 2pm to 4pm. The center may be open during the week as well; if the flag is hanging outside, the center is open! Entrance is free.

source: Nieuwe tentoonstelling in het Koetshuis in de Leidse Hout

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No Homeless Birds!

by Amy Posted on 1 March 2006

This week is the Week of the Nestbox in the Netherlands. Bird protection group Vogelbescherming Nederland calls on everyone to hang birdhouses on their property in time for the breeding season, and to take note of nesting activity on their property. The group wants to make gardens and parks more attractive for bird nests while at the same time to get more people interested in birds and their protection.

In the Netherlands today, is fashionable to have a completely paved garden. More often wood fences are used to delineate property, replacing the hedges of yore. These changes have a negative impact on the songbirds that would typically nest in the hedges and search for food on grassy lawns.

Vogelbescherming also sponsors a nest-bird count. Via the website www.weekvandenestkast.nl participants can record the breeding activity in the nests.

source: Alle vogels onder dak

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Birding At Starrevaart

by Amy Posted on 28 February 2006

Last weekend we visited a small lake between the Hague and Leiden, called Starrevaart. The area is set aside for birds and is a popular spot for both migratory and resident waterfowl and waders.

The Province Zuid-Holland maintains the area, which is 30 hectares water and 30 hectares reeds. The water has a maximum depth of 2 meters.

There is a path around the water, which was quite muddy when we were there on Saturday.

Path around bird lake Starrevaart, the Netherlands
On the walking path

Along the path there are some signs which give details on some of the birds you can find there. This one gives information on the marsh harrier, bruine kiekendief in Dutch.

Placard at Starrevaart

There is a bird hide on the east side of the water.

Bird hide at Starrevaart

View of Starrevaart from the bird hide
View over the water from the hide

We watched the activity on the water for about 30 minutes. Here are some of the birds we saw.

(Eurasian) Wigeon, Mareca penelope
(Eurasian) Wigeon [Smient] Mareca penelope

Great Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus
Great Crested Grebe [Fuut] Podiceps cristatus

Tufted Duck, Athya fuligula
Tufted Duck [Kuifeend] Athya fuligula

To the northeast of the water there is an outlook tower.

Tower at Starrevaart

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New Bird Island For Netherlands

by Amy Posted on 27 February 2006

In the natural area “Wagejot”, by the West Frisian Island Texel, a new bird island has been established. The long island was created with mud silt. The Dutch park service Natuurmonumenten hopes that the island will be used as breeding ground by wading birds.

On Thursday February 24, contractors used heavy equipment to complete the construction of the island with a layer of shells. Natuurmonumenten hopes that bird species such as the common tern, avocet, and the ringed plover will make a home there. The group also hopes the sandwich tern will come to the island. In a nearby natural area a group of sandwich terns has been breeding for the last two years.

Source: NIEUW VOGELEILAND OP TEXEL

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Golden Egg Action Tries To Stop Egg Thievery

by Amy Posted on 27 February 2006

The Dutch radio program Vroege Vogels (“Early Birds”) announced a competition this weekend which will award the finder of the first Northern Lapwing egg in Friesland this year: The Golden Egg.

It is a tradition in the Dutch province Friesland to steal eggs from the Northern Lapwing. In earlier times the tradition was that the first egg should be brought to the queen. Queen Juliana stopped this practice in 1970, but the tradition to steal the eggs continued.

Since last year, stealing the eggs is illegal under EU regulations. However, some towns in Friesland have applied for and received exceptions to the law. In the month of March citizens may take up to 15 eggs per person. Friesland is the only area in Europe where the practice is allowed. Each year the case between the traditionalists and nature & animal protection groups goes to court.

The action from Vroege Vogels rewards the finder of the first egg – but the egg must remain in the nest. The finder of the egg will be rewarded as long as the parent bird also remains by the nest. The prize is a 14k gold broche. They hope to promote the cause of animal protection by rewarding those who would not steal eggs.

Source: Gouden kievitseitje

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Guided Nature Walks In Holland Avoid Waterfowl

by Amy Posted on 20 February 2006

Park rangers in the Netherlands are changing their guided walks in order to avoid areas where waterfowl congregate. They are also stopping guided walks which would normally pass through fields where large groups of geese or ducks live. These are some of the measures taken by the Dutch park service against the spread of bird flu.

A spokesperson said that since last fall the park rangers have been paying special attention to the health of the birds in the parks of the Netherlands. Every dead bird has also been carefully examined.

Besides the changes made to the guided walks program, the park service (Staatsbosbeheer) has also asked all volunteers who are working in the poultry industry to cease their volunteer activities.

Along with other Dutch agencies, the park service has noticed a sharp increase in the number of reports of dead birds they receive.

The park service and other agencies responsible for natural areas have a plan of action ready in case the H5N1 virus is found in the Netherlands, which might just be a matter of time. One such measure will be to close off certain areas to visitors.

Source: Natuurexcursies mijden watervogels zo veel mogelijk

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Dutch Bird Experts Oppose Fox Hunt

by Amy Posted on 20 February 2006

Foxes rob nests of the black-tailed Godwit, and because of that the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality wants hunters to be able to shoot the mammals beginning April 1. Bird experts oppose the plan.

Bird research organization SOVON, along with the countryside-management NGO Landschapsbeheer Nederland, conducted a study on the predators of meadow birds. As part of the study, Black-tailed Godwits were monitored with cameras. The full results of the study will be presented on 11 March.

A spokesperson has said that the research will not support the hunting of foxes. There is a great variety in the predators which threaten the godwits. Ermines, buzzards and seagulls are also preying on the godwits. The cameras even caught a domestic dog plundering a godwit nest. In addition there are areas where foxes live where they do not prey on protected birds.

Source: ‘Besluit om vos af te schieten voorbarig’

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Dutch Safety Authority: More Dead Bird Reports

by Amy Posted on 16 February 2006

In recent days, Dutch citizens have been more likely to report sightings of dead ducks, geese and other birds. That is according to a statement made by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (VWA) on Wednesday. The media attention on the bird flu virus has made people more alert.

Since the discovery of the H5N1 virus in European countries, including Italy and Greece, dozens of dead bird reports have been called in each day in the Netherlands, according to the inspection division of the interior cabinet (AID). Back in January, the number of reports was about one per week.

Last fall the AID opened a hotline (045-546-6230) which people can use to call in dead bird reports. The dead birds are picked up by the VWA and are tested for the flu virus if necessary. So far the virus has not been found in any birds in the Netherlands.

Source: VWA: meer meldingen dode vogels

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