Brandenburg Farmers' Association calls for measures to prevent bird damage in fields

Flocks of wild geese, cranes and crows graze fields and eat the seeds from the fields: The state farmers' association in Brandenburg complains about increasing damage caused by migratory and resting birds and is calling on the state to intervene in bird protection areas.

Farmers President Henrik Wendorff said that an increasing number of farmers were reporting that they felt left alone. The consequences of feeding and trampling damage as well as droppings in the fields could be life-threatening. The Havelland, the Oderbruch and the Prignitz are particularly affected. The Ministry of Agriculture also sees an additional burden in times that are already economically difficult for farmers.

Farmers' Association: Up to 300,000 euros in damage

“The country has stood by and watched the growth of wild bird populations in recent years. “Now the extent of the damage has become so great that effective, nationwide management must be put in place that fully exploits the legal framework for targeted deterrence and removal,” said Wendorff. According to the farmers' association, the reported damage amounts range from 3,000 euros to 300,000 euros per farm.

In bird sanctuaries, the animals cannot be deterred "effectively and legally," let alone hunted, according to a position paper from the association. Compensation for the damage is not available. Solutions would now have to be developed that would meet both the requirements of species and nature conservation as well as the legitimate interests of agriculture.

Wendorff: It's not just about the shot

Farmers President Wendorff emphasized that it is not primarily about shooting birds. Distractive feeding, scaring and frightening shots could also be measures. “It’s about developing good ideas.”

Tens of thousands of cranes are currently taking a break in Brandenburg on their flight south. They are a protected species according to the Federal Nature Conservation Act and the European Birds Directive. However, their population is not considered endangered.

Ministry open to possible model region

From the Ministry of Agriculture's perspective, a future project could be examined in a model region in order to reduce feeding damage using certain methods. The Lower Havell lowlands are ideal for this, it was said.

Projects were already implemented in three regions in the 1990s. The key point was to make areas unattractive for geese and to scare them away from there. At the same time, alternative areas were upgraded where geese could eat undisturbed without causing damage, the ministry said.