Heavy rain, storms and cold are still forcing migratory birds to the ground on their journey southwards. Swallows and swifts in Vienna and Lower Austria are particularly affected, and animal protection is working at full speed to help the birds. But they are not always successful…
Stefan Scheidl’s phone rings every minute. The head zookeeper at the Vösendorf animal shelter has his hands full trying to get the dramatic situation under control.
“I am currently standing under the Vienna Reichsbrücke. Here the animals seek shelter and huddle together in their hundreds. Unfortunately, this is a death trap because they force each other into the points of the connected pigeon guard. Most of the ones we find here are already dead. We are collecting kilos of dead swallows, which is very sad,” he describes the current operation.
Due to the cold and wet weather, flying insects, the birds’ main food source, are hardly active. As a result, many swallows and swifts remain weakened on the ground. The situation is therefore very serious for the remaining migratory birds.
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The animal protection organization Tierschutz Austria responded immediately to the emergency and is calling on the population to report weakened swallows or swallows in need of help and bring them to the Vösendorf animal shelter.
“Our team is working around the clock to rescue these animals. They can be dropped off at the animal shelter at any time and our emergency number is available to report any swallows,” Scheidl said.
Source: Krone
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