Animals - More and more rooks in Rhineland-Palatinate
Due to the increase of Jackdaws in the country, Rhineland-Palatinate has issued a guideline for farmers and residents in the cities. In this guide, preventive measures before and during sowing are presented, as the Climate Protection Ministry announced on a Wednesday in Mainz. Furthermore, a general regulation is mentioned, which should simplify the permit process for farmers to shoot Jackdaws as an exception.
According to the ministry, there are currently large Jackdaw colonies with over 1000 breeding pairs in Rhineland-Palatinate, especially in Rhinhessen, the Palatinate, and the Zweibrücken region. In high-altitude areas like the Westerwald, the animals are hardly found. The number of breeding pairs has risen to approximately 12,500 throughout Rhineland-Palatinate. The current winter population in the state is estimated to be around 16,000 birds.
The increase in population is due to the fact that some large Jackdaw colonies are located near biogas producers in southern Rhineland-Palatinate. There, silage, such as that from maize, is usually stored year-round and serves as food for the Jackdaws. A natural food shortage in the winter months does not exist. The lack of tall trees in the landscape also causes Jackdaws to seek shelter and breeding sites in the city among plane trees.
In urban areas, the birds have no predators like the owl. Noise and light disturb them not. The ministry added that residents were increasingly disturbed by the birds' calls, droppings, and falling nesting materials. Farmers reported damages up to harvest failures. This mainly affects fresh corn or sugar beet seedlings, fruit cultivation, and especially cherry orchards.
Press release Guideline
- In the Palatinate, Vorderpfalz, and the Zweibrücken region of Rhineland-Palatinate, where large Jackdaw colonies have been identified, an increase in agriculture activities may be necessary to deter these animals due to their negative impact on crops, such as fresh corn, sugar beet seedlings, fruit cultivation, and cherry orchards.
- The guideline issued by Rhineland-Palatinate urges farmers in these areas to consider implementing preventive measures during sowing, as the Jackdaws' proximity to biogas producers provides them with a year-round food source, making their population control essential for successful agriculture.
- As the number of Jackdaws in Rhineland-Palatinate continues to rise, reaching approximately 16,000 birds in the current winter population, it is imperative for cities like Mainz to consider the enactment of general regulations to ease the permit process for farmers to shoot Jackdaws as an exception, ensuring the continuation of successful agriculture in the region.
