Deutschland – 26. 06. 2025

Update from our Harrier-project in Germany

26.06.2025

The grain harvest is now in full swing in the Rhineland in Germany and many barley fields have already been threshed. The nests of Marsh harriers and Montagu's harriers, which breed on the ground, are now in danger, as the young birds have not yet fledged and often end up unseen in the harvester. We have mapped the nests in the region between Aachen and Cologne and marked them in collaboration with the farmers. They now leave a 25 x 25 metre square around the nest during harvesting, where the harriers can raise their chicks. For further protection, we set up an electric fence at the first nest yesterday. Other nests are located in wheat fields that have not yet been harvested or in gravel pits, where the young birds will probably be able to fledge without help.