The extreme weather of the past few days has also caused enormous damage to wildlife. According to the organization Birdlife, of the various bird species, flying insect hunters such as swallows are particularly affected: on their way to their African wintering grounds, they were surprised by storms and floods, and thousands of swallows are said to have died.
“Due to the current extreme weather conditions with floods and storms, many birds are literally stranded on their migration south,” said Eva Karner-Ranner of Birdlife Austria on Tuesday. Thousands of weakened or dead swallows were observed, mainly house martins.
If the search for food for flying insects fails due to heavy rain, mass deaths can occur. A similar situation occurred in 1974. At that time, swallows were collected in “an unprecedented operation” and transported south by plane and train.
Beware of birds sitting on the ground!
It is not yet possible to estimate what consequences the current situation will have for local breeding populations. Groups of swallows under roofs etc. must not be disturbed, so that they do not lose even more energy. Birds that sit on the ground and no longer fly up, must be taken to the nearest shelter in a box with air holes after consultation with experts.
Source: Krone
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