Having almost become extinct in the past, the peregrine falcon is recovering and has been recognised as Bird of the Year 2018 by Swiss nature association Birdlife.
Peregrine falcons, which can reach speeds of up to 300km/h when diving after prey, went extinct in many European countries in the 1950s because they were particularly badly affected by the effects of the toxic pesticide DDT.
In addition, hunting the bird was still legal. In Switzerland, only a tiny remnant population survived, but they slowly started recovering after DDT was banned. Thanks to the efforts of international nature protection efforts, the peregrine falcon returned to many areas of Europe and can now be found on all continents except Antarctica.
Today, the peregrine falcon faces new dangers. Birdlife SwitzerlandExternal link has registered dozens of poisonings in recent years. These were carried out by pigeon breeders who deliberately prepared their pigeons with extremely potent poison to kill the falcons.
Other dangers to the species include new wind farms, increasing disturbance of their breeding grounds and glass windows panes which are invisible to the birds.
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No matter how green and beautiful it appears in postcards and social media posts, Switzerland is struggling to boost its biodiversity.
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The great spotted woodpecker (Dentocopros major) is the most common woodpecker in Switzerland. The secret to its success: its adaptability. The bird feels at home almost anywhere – maybe even in your garden. In general you’ll hear a spotted woodpecker before you see it. The bird prefers to knock and drum on rotting wood. Its…
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Sparrow populations have declined by as much as 40% in some parts of the country since 1980, according to the association. The decline is more acute in cities due to the lack of green spaces and adequate nourishment. A shortage of insects and overdependence on human leftovers is retarding the growth of young sparrows. Besides…
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The artists lured the birds into a contraption which sprayed them with bright colours. According to the pair, no birds were hurt in the process. The pigeons were released in Venice in time for the city’s 2012 Biennial, and could be seen flying above the city … or trying to eat tourists’ lunches. (All images…
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