Once widespread in this country, the gray bunting is now one of the endangered bird species.

Only 200 districts were recently counted in Hesse.

At least in the Wetterau, however, a change for the better can be seen.

Because in and on the edge of the nature reserve Mittlere Horloffaue near Reichelsheim, one of the largest retreats for birds in the country, the populations are increasing again.

This year ornithologists counted almost 100 male gray bugs, which is almost double that of the previous year.

Wolfram Ahlers

Correspondent for the Rhein-Main-Zeitung for Central Hesse and the Wetterau.

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The breeding successes are thanks to the cooperation between nature conservation and agriculture: In coordination with ornithologists, the farmers have adapted the cultivation of their areas to the needs of the now rare bird species. In the meantime, the gray bugs have successfully raised their offspring there, are preparing for wintering in the Wetterau or gathering with others of their kind to move to warmer areas, said Stefan Stübing, species advisor at the state bird sanctuary.

The gray-brown bird, barely 20 centimeters tall, is rather inconspicuous, at best it catches the eye with its song.

This is also due to the fact that the gray bunting belong to the ground breeders, whereby they prefer grassland areas for nest building and rearing of the young.

While the female takes care of the offspring alone, the male mainly takes on the task of warning with characteristic sounds in the event of danger.

A male gray bunting often has several females that breed in its territory.

Once the chicks have hatched, grasshoppers and other larger insects are preferred on the menu.

Avoid nesting sites when mowing

So that there is enough food for the offspring, the gray bunting does not breed until relatively late in the year. This can lead to conflicts with the agricultural sector and, in the worst case, result in the loss of the young. Because the late brood can hardly be reconciled with the schedule of the farmers who want to mow the meadows early enough in order to have sufficient and high-quality winter forage for their cattle and sheep. But early mowing dates can destroy the nests in the grassland.

The example from the Wetterau shows that there is another way: On behalf of the bird protection station, observers from the Hessian Society for Ornithology and Nature Conservation recorded and marked the breeding grounds of the gray bunting in the Horloffaue.

The farmers then made sure to leave out the nesting sites when mowing.

For this they get financial compensation.

Bird conservationists and farmers are supported by the Wetterau Nature Conservation Fund, an association of districts, cities and municipalities, nature conservation organizations, farmers' associations, companies and individuals, which offers advice on grassland areas and gathers knowledge.

In this case, it is hoped that the experiences in the Horloffaue will be transferred to other locations in order to secure the population of the gray bunting in the long term.