- Uncommon avian species finds nesting site at the airport's lake.
A unique avian clan has nested at the airport's lagoon: The elusive little bittern has successfully hatched four offspring in the bird sanctuary. The wildlife preservation society (NABU) announced the initial sighting of the adult bird around early July. Not long after, the whole family became noticeable from public strolling paths. Consequently, the airport lagoon is currently recognized as the sole cultivating location for a little bittern in Berlin for this year. Birdwatchers have spotted juveniles here since 2003, yet breeding confirmation has only occurred recently.
Little bitterns are an endangered species
As stated by NABU, the little bittern is Europe's tiniest heron and resides in the reeds of lakes and other bodies of water. It also preys upon its targets in these areas. Regrettably, the bird is classified as endangered on both the nationwide and Berlin red list of breeding birds. The persistent decrease in reed beds serves as one of the primary causes for this. "Since 2018, we've observed significant reed decay at the airport lake," remarked Frank Sieste, head of the NABU working group. The team has been maintaining the reserve for years.
The German Nature Conservation Union (Bundesnaturschutzbund Deutschland, BNBD or Naturschutzbund Deutschland, NABU in English) has played a crucial role in the conservation efforts for the little bittern. Despite the presence of the species at the airport lagoon since 2003, the German Nature Conservation Union's efforts, led by Frank Sieste, have been instrumental in achieving recent breeding confirmations.
