Category Archives: Netherlands

The province of Zuid Holland in the Netherlands has given permission to fauna management to shoot geese outside of protected areas. Permission was granted considering the overpopulation of geese in the province are causing significant damage to agriculture.

The fauna management group consists of landowners, forest rangers and hunters. Besides shooting, the group was also given permission to capture geese and shake eggs. Shaken eggs do not hatch and when they are replaced in the nest the geese will not produce more eggs.

Source: Provincie geeft toestemming voor afschieten ganzen

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The Dutch town of Katwijk is urging residents to take measures against seagulls nesting town rooftops. The relatively mild winter is coming to an end and experts say the gulls’ breeding season could start early this year.

Advice on the Katwijk city website advises residents to take a stroll on flat rooftops a few times per week to deter gulls from nesting there. Plastic raptors or owl statues are also suggested as a means of scaring off potential nesters. Laying wires or nets may also ward off the gulls.

Source: Katwijkers het dak op tegen nestelende meeuwen

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Friesland in the Netherlands is the only area in the EU where the plundering of Lapwing nests is not only allowed but encouraged. The tradition of finding, stealing and then eating the first found egg of the year is rewarded by local government.

The first Frisian Lapwing egg of 2007 was found by Christiaan Noordhuis of Bolsward on Wednesday, March 7.

At 6pm Wednesday evening a representative of the Queen, Ed Nilpels, followed protocol by accepting the first Lapwing egg at the Leeuwarden provincial hall. Nijpels must eat the egg according to tradition. Noordhuis’ reward for the egg: EUR 15.

Source: Bolswarder vindt eerste Friese kievitsei

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The pair of White-tailed Eagles that successfully fledged a chick last year in the Oostvaardersplassen in the Netherlands has returned. They were the first White-tailed Eagles to breed in the Netherlands since the Middle Ages.

The pair are busy preparing the nest which they used last year. A webcam has been placed on the nest so visitors will be able to observe the birds. The exact location of the nest has not been revealed to the public and the area remains inaccessible so as to not disturb the birds. The webcam will be broadcast on the website www.staatsbosbeheer.nl from 08 March.

The pair successfully fledged one chick last year. The young eagle is living close to the area it was born and has been spotted around the Oosvaardersplassen throughout the seasons. The sex of the bird is unknown.

The Oostvaardersplassen is an ideal area for the eagles to breed as they can remain all year. They usually sustain on fish but in the winter if the fish supply is diminished they will also feed on deer carcasses.

Source: Zeearenden nestelen weer in Oostvaardersplassen

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In the past weeks birdwatchers have noted White-tailed Eagles in the areas of Drenthe and Groningen in the Netherlands. The sightings have mostly occurred by bodies of water. Natuurmonumenten hopes that the recent sightings mean more breeding pairs can be found in Holland this season.

The White-tailed Eagle is the largest bird of prey in North Europe. The wingspan ranges from 230 to 265 centimeters. They typically live close to water and may cover distances of 30 to 40 kilometers per day in search of food. Above open water they hunt for food which includes fish, geese and ducks.

There is a good chance to see a White-tailed Eagle from the bird hide in the Frisian Veen, accessible from the Natuurmonumenten property Vennebroek on Hoofdweg in Paterswolde.

Source: ZEEARENDEN ONTDEKKEN DRENTS-GRONINGSE NATUURGEBIEDEN

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Last year there was a lot of talk in the Netherlands about a Bohemian Waxwing ‘invasion’. A survey conducted by the organization Waarneming.nl was a huge success as groups and individuals contributed to the survey in large numbers all over the country.

So far the number of Waxwings counted in the Netherlands this year has not been as great as last year. With fewer birds there is less talk and the annual survey is expected to have fewer participants.

In the last two weeks the number of Bohemian Waxwing sightings has increased throughout the country. The numbers are not considered an ‘invasion’ on the scale seen last year. Waxwing sightings in general have increased over the past five years but last year was remarkable with a huge number of sightings.

However with the increasing trend over the years Waarneming.nl will organize another survey, taking place 17-18 Feburary. Everyone is welcome to participate and report their Waxwing sightings on the website.

Source: Nationale pestvogeltelling

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In January at least 400 people reported seeing a Kingfisher in the Netherlands. Reports came from all over the country, though fewer birds were sighted in the drier north central provinces, such as Drenthe.

January 2007 in the Netherlands was as one of the warmest on record. Successive gentle winters and minimal frost periods have led to an increase in the Kingfisher population in the Netherlands. In the 1990’s between 125 and 250 breeding pairs were thought to live in Holland. In recent years this has grown to more than 600 pairs.

Most Dutch Kingfishers choose to breed on the sandy grounds in eastern Noord Brabant, Limburg and vicinity, along dunes or riverbeds. However the birds have been spotted in more urban areas. Sightings in residential gardens have also been reported, with the Kingfishers showing interest in private goldfish ponds as hunting grounds!

Source: Zeker vierhonderd mensen spotten ijsvogel

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The Eurasian Sparrow-hawk has settled in Amsterdam, and this has been bad news for House Sparrows. Ten years ago the sparrow population in Amsterdam was 40,000 birds. Today the number has fallen to around 5400, in large part due to the sparrow-hawks.

Eurasian Sparrow-hawks in Amsterdam find House Sparrows a tasty meal.

Researchers have been keeping track of the sparrow population in Amsterdam for the past two years. The hawks favor the sparrows over other similar birds, like Blue and Great Tits, because the sparrows tend to congregate in the same places over time and they tend to travel in groups. This makes them easier for the Sparrow-hawks to hunt.

Researchers recognized that one hawk could be responsible for up to 400 sparrow deaths in a season. Sparrow-hawks in turn are threatened by hawks in Dutch forests. Many have fled to the cities to feast on sparrows and avoid capture themselves.

The sparrow has been recognized as a threatened species in the Netherlands since 2004.

Source: Sperwer bedreigt huismus

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