News: Short & sweet / archive
Short & sweet / archive

Nine Little Owl chicks and several successful broods: our Little Owl conservation project is yielding encouraging results …

During this year’s Little Owl monitoring programme in the Paderborn District, our Little Owl conservation project manager made several encouraging observations. A total of five adult birds and nine Little Owl chicks were recorded in the nesting tubes we had installed. Our staff have never before documented so many Little Owls in the Paderborn region in a single day’s work.

The results confirm the success of our conservation work. Many of the Little Owl nesting boxes installed by the Foundation Pro Biodiversity since 2019 have already been taken up during the first breeding season – a clear indication that suitable nesting and breeding sites remain in short supply and that it makes sense to install more Little Owl nesting boxes in suitable locations.

The Little Owl chicks recorded in mid-June 2026 provided some interesting insights: experience suggests that young birds should already be fledged by mid-June, yet this year many of the chicks found were still covered in soft down. We suspect that the comparatively cool spring and the resulting food shortage delayed the start of breeding. The supply of mice now found in the nesting tubes and the excellent condition of both the adult and young owls suggest that food is currently plentiful.

The success of this monitoring programme once again demonstrates how important it is to combine nature-friendly habitat management, expert site selection, and regular checks of the nest boxes. Every successful record of breeding encourages us to continue our targeted efforts to support the Little Owl as a characteristic species of the pollarded tree and orchard meadow landscape in East Westphalia, with a view to further strengthening the Little Owl population.

Common Kestrels, Barn Owls, Jackdaws and House Sparrows make use of our species conservation towers – yet the decline in the populations of many structure-nesting birds is unmistakable …

As part of this year’s breeding bird surveys, staff from the Foundation Pro Biodiversity checked all five species conservation towers in the Rhineland. The surveys aim to document the current use of the nest box structures and to monitor long-term population trends among the bird species that breed there.

This year’s results once again demonstrate just how important such species-conservation structures have become in urban areas.

In the towers monitored, Common Kestrels, Barn Owls, Eurasian Jackdaws, Common Starlings, House Martins, House Sparrows, as well as Great Tits and Nuthatches – the latter not typically found nesting in buildings – were recorded.

A pair of Common Kestrels in the species conservation tower in Bouderath provided a particular surprise. The birds of prey had chosen a nest box designed for Jackdaws with an entrance hole measuring just eight centimetres as their breeding site. Common Kestrels usually use significantly larger entrance holes, around 15 centimetres in diameter. This makes it all the more astonishing that the pair of Kestrels nevertheless successfully settled in the comparatively small Jackdaw nest box. At least two young Kestrels, almost ready to fledge, were observed inside. An unusual but remarkable example of how increasingly more bird species are (having to) become flexible in their choice of breeding sites.

Unfortunately, our project staff observed significantly fewer Common Swifts, House Martins, House Sparrows and Common Starlings in the vicinity of the species conservation towers than in previous years. The reasons for this are varied, but increasingly threaten the species’ survival, ranging from the loss of suitable nesting and breeding sites to a massive decline in the insect population.

Whilst we can only influence the decline in insect populations to a limited extent, by creating permanent safe nesting, breeding, and refuge structures for numerous bird species, the species conservation towers of the Foundation Pro Biodiversity are making an important contribution to the regional population of native building-nesting birds.

Over 60 interested visitors, lots of questions and strong support for the protection of biodiversity – a successful field trip to the Schimmel's Ponds

At the invitation of the Foundation Pro Biodiversity, a total of 64 nature enthusiasts took up the opportunity—offered just once a year—to explore the fenced-off core area of the Schimmel's ponds near Limbach-Oberfrohna during a guided tour lasting around an hour and a half on 30 May 2026.

Despite the forecast of thunderstorms, the weather was kind to us, and a large number of participants had already gathered before the event began. Following a brief introduction by our CEO, Roland Tischbier, and the ornithologist Jens Hering, the tour took us along the pond embankments directly into the project area, past five of the north-western ponds and the water buffalo grazing there.

Amidst the croaking of countless Common Water Frogs and accompanied by watchful Mute Swan parents with their cygnets, Tufted Ducks and, of course, Mallards and their ducklings, the project managers provided information on the habitat restoration measures implemented over the past 12 months, as well as on future plans for the further ecological enhancement of the Schimmel's ponds. Information on the successes achieved so far for birdlife, including sightings of rare species such as the Reed Bunting, Jack Snipe and Red Phalarope, also attracted great interest.

The overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants was very encouraging. Many expressly welcomed the conservation measures taken by the Foundation Pro Biodiversity, including the comprehensive enclosure of the core area, which provides the necessary peace and quiet for the water buffalo and goats roaming freely there (as landscape managers) and for the bird, amphibian, reptile and insect species found there to forage and reproduce.

For the Foundation Pro Biodiversity and its project partners, the event was heartening proof that interest in the comprehensive protection of our wetland area, which covers just under 12 hectares, is growing steadily in the region.

When the water ‘bubbles’ and an endangered amphibian species reveals its presence and all its vitality in the 'Seeländereien bei Frose' wetlands ...

The population of the Moor Frog in Saxony-Anhalt has declined significantly in recent decades. Drainage, habitat loss and increasingly dry periods are taking a heavy toll on this amphibian species. Today, the Moor Frog is classified as endangered in Saxony-Anhalt and has declined to just a few, mostly isolated remnant populations (see Saxony-Anhalt State Office for Environmental Protection, Red List).

This makes the recent observations in the ‘Seeländereien bei Frose’ wetland complex – which covers just under 75 hectares and of which our Foundation owns 32 hectares – all the more encouraging. At the beginning of April, up to 40 calling male Moor Frogs were observed here. This is thought to be one of the last stable populations in the region.

During the brief spawning season, the males take on a distinctive blue colour and attract attention with their soft, ‘bubbling’ calls – an impressive yet now rare natural spectacle that can only be observed in a few places.

However, the area's dynamics also highlight the vulnerability of this population. In recent years, a lack of rainfall just a few weeks after the breeding season has led to many water bodies drying up drastically. This jeopardises the reproductive success of an entire year.

Maintaining stable water levels is therefore crucial. Through targeted habitat restoration measures, the Foundation Pro Biodiversity aims to ensure water availability well into the summer months, thereby helping to stabilise the wetlands near Frose in the long term as a valuable habitat for amphibians, insects and water-dependent bird species.

This spring is showing that targeted habitat restoration measures are gradually transforming this former fish farm back into a wetland rich in structure and biodiversity.

As spring now progresses rapidly, a new phase of development is becoming apparent at the ‘Schimmel’s ponds’ in the Limbach pond area south of Limbach-Oberfrohna. Whereas just three years ago the pond area was dominated by intensive fish farming, a diverse natural pond landscape is now gradually re-emerging. Spring is revealing the results of the targeted and extensive biotope restoration and development measures initiated by the Foundation Pro Biodiversity in 2024.

The pond area, covering around twelve hectares (120,000 m²), forms part of a significant wetland in south-west Saxony – a region otherwise lacking in water – and already provides a valuable habitat for a wide variety of waterbird species.

After acquiring the land in 2023, we agreed and adopted a comprehensive plan of action in consultation with local conservationists and the regional nature conservation authority. The top priority was to restore the technical water management system to allow for variable water levels in the 12 ponds – a fundamental prerequisite for the development of a wide variety of aquatic habitats. Shortly afterwards, the rapidly encroaching scrub growth on and around the pond embankments was cut back; as some ponds had dried up, large stands of reeds and cattails were partially removed, and the embankments were restored.

With the start of this year’s vegetation growth season, it is already clear just how quickly nature is responding to these measures. The sun-exposed pond banks, now open again, provide ideal conditions for insects, amphibians, and numerous bird species. Last year, extensive grazing by our ‘natural landscape managers’ – water buffalo, Highland cattle and goats – helped the natural development.

A remarkable increase in the diversity of migratory and breeding birds is already evident. The varied landscape structure, comprising open water bodies, damp mudflats along the banks, and structurally rich shoreline areas, creates a mosaic of habitats unique to the region.

This spring, the long-term goal of this ambitious nature and species conservation project is becoming increasingly clear: through natural processes, with only gentle guidance, former intensively farmed fishponds are being transformed into a vibrant wetland that provides a habitat for biodiversity, whilst also impressively demonstrating just how effective consistent, privately funded nature conservation can be.

More hunting sites discovered – but fewer shots fired:
How the illegal spring hunt for our migratory birds on Zakynthos continues to evolve ...

Again, this spring, teams from the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) and the Foundation Pro Biodiversity are working together on the Greek island of Zakynthos to combat the illegal hunting of migratory birds. The latest figures show that the intensive bird conservation efforts of recent years are having an impact – even though the situation remains a serious one.

Compared with last year, more active bird hunting sites have once again been identified. At the same time, however, a significant decline in the number of shots fired has been recorded – an important indicator that the pressure of surveillance is having an effect on illegal hunters.

Results of the 2026 Spring Bird Conservation Camp
(figures for 2025 in brackets for comparison):

 

• 45 active hunting sites identified (38)
• 11 hunters caught red-handed (13 Criminal charges were brought against 13 hunters operating illegally, supported by video evidence)
• 9 weapons confiscated (3)
• 484 live cartridges seized (180)
• 2 dead Turtle Doves recovered
• 7 hunters convicted following formal charges (19)

Despite the increase in the number of hunting sites discovered, there is a positive trend: significantly fewer shots were recorded during our operations than in previous years. In previous years, over 100 shots could be heard on individual days – this spring, the maximum number was around 60 to 70 shots per day, with the focus remaining on the well-known problem area around Keri.

Another significant difference compared with last year is that our response teams have so far been spared physical attacks this spring – a development we attribute to consistent law enforcement and increased vigilance with regard to illegal hunting activities.

Nevertheless, the work on Zakynthos is far from over. During the operations, previously unknown hunting sites were discovered, and these will receive higher monitoring priority in future campaigns. The aim remains to curb illegal spring hunting of migratory birds further and, in the long term, to put a complete stop to it.

The campaign on Zakynthos demonstrates once again that, thanks to the close cooperation between the Committee Against the Slaughter of Birds (CABS) and our Foundation, our annual spring presence on the ground, and the financial support of dedicated donors, we are able to make measurable progress in the practical protection of migratory birds.

40 volunteers, six refuse collection lorries and a major effort to protect nature – a community initiative at Pantano Cuba clears rubbish from valuable dry slopes …

For the first time, a concerted joint effort has succeeded in completely clearing the dry slopes along the road bordering our Pantano Cuba conservation area to the east – slopes that were heavily littered with vast quantities of illegally dumped rubbish. This is an important contribution to the protection of the sensitive Mediterranean scrubland, which is adapted to dry habitats and characterised by Wild Thyme, Rosemary and Oregano!

This initiative was organised by the two Bird Guards of the Foundation Pro Biodiversity in close collaboration with the municipality of Pachino (SR), the environmental group ‘Pirati Della Marza’ and the association ‘Borgo Sostenibile’. A total of eight organisations took part in the initiative, including several local environmental groups, a scout group comprising numerous young people, and other dedicated conservationists. Despite the limited number of participants due to poor weather, around 40 volunteers were mobilised, sending a strong message in support of practical nature conservation in the local area.

The results of this coordinated effort are impressive: more than 200 bin bags, each with a capacity of 120 litres, were filled, amounting to a total volume of around 15-18 cubic metres of rubbish. In total, six lorryloads of rubbish were collected. In addition to ordinary household waste, large quantities of problematic waste were also collected, including old tyres, mattresses, furniture, scrap metal and various household appliances.

The municipality of Pachino provided logistical support for the campaign by supplying refuse collection vehicles, collection materials, and bins free of charge and by ensuring proper waste disposal. The Syracuse Provincial Police ensured the campaign ran smoothly by closing roads and implementing security measures.

The high level of motivation among all those involved, the visible results, and the great success have already encouraged our Bird Guards to plan a second rubbish collection campaign for April 2026. The aim is to finally clear all litter from the dry slopes along our land and the local road all the way to the coastal village of Granelli.

This initiative is a striking example of how community involvement can bring about tangible and rapid improvements to the countryside and biodiversity.

A challenging rescue mission that will significantly reinforce the small remaining population of Marbled Ducks in Sicily...

As part of the EU species conservation programme LIFE18, which supports and co-finances projects across Europe to strengthen populations and secure the existence of endangered species and their habitats, the Foundation Pro Biodiversity has made a significant contribution to strengthening the population of the Marbled Duck, which is native only to southern Europe and is now threatened with extinction.

This delicate duck species – scientifically known as Marmaronetta angustirostris – has sandy brown camouflage colouring, an unusually narrow beak and a strikingly calm demeanour. For years, it has been one of the most rapidly declining waterbird populations in the Mediterranean region. Its populations have been shrinking dramatically worldwide for decades because its habitats, intact waters with protective vegetation, are losing their ecological quality, being destroyed by human intervention and disappearing due to desiccation.

Extensive biotope restoration and development measures were implemented in close cooperation with regional nature conservation authorities in Sicily.

These focused on the shore and shallow-water zones of the Pantano Longarini wetland area owned by the Foundation, and on the near-natural redesign of parts of the former fish-farming canal system on the south side of the lagoon. At the suggestion of the Foundation Pro Biodiversity, this LIFE18 project is also co-financing the purchase of land near the lagoon and its partial conversion into new wetlands with small bodies of water – a key measure to expand the habitats of this endangered duck species by creating extensive new biotope structures.

A second key component of the LIFE18 species conservation project was the release of a total of 100 Marbled Ducks into our Pantani nature reserve between 2023 and 2026. These young ducks come from an EU-funded Marbled Duck breeding station in Spain. After a 14-day acclimatisation period in an outdoor aviary located in the middle of the Pantani reserve, the last 20 Marbled Ducks were released into the wild at the beginning of March 2026 as part of this LIFE18 funding project. All Marbled Ducks are ringed, and some also carry a mini GPS transmitter, which allows their flights and habitat use to be documented over a set period.

We can already see that this LIFE18 species conservation project has given a significant boost not only to the population of the Marbled Duck, but also to the Ferruginous duck, which is threatened throughout Europe, and the Western Purple Swamphen, which is critically endangered.

Life begins anew – awakening from hibernation

With the relatively early awakening from hibernation this year, many bird species that nest in buildings begin their new breeding season in March. Species such as Jackdaws, Italian Sparrows, House Sparrows, Black Redstarts and White Wagtails take advantage of the first milder days to secure their nesting sites and breeding grounds. They are among the bird species that breed twice a year in succession. This natural conservation strategy compensates for the relatively high mortality rate among young birds, particularly evident in urban habitats.

To establish our proven species protection tower strategy in Italy, the country of historic rural dovecotes, we worked with one of Italy's most renowned bird conservationists at his farm in the northern Italian municipality of Borgolavezzaro (province of Piedmont). We converted the old, unused dovecote into a species-protection tower for birds and insects that make their home in buildings. Designed as a prototype species-protection tower for Italy, the former dovecote has now developed into a species-protection building teeming with bird and insect life.

Today, the tower is home to an extensive breeding colony of Jackdaws, which has steadily grown over the years. Inside the tower and on its façade, Starlings, Italian and House Sparrows, as well as Common Swifts and House Martins, use many of the 440 breeding cavities and artificial nests. A special highlight: the species protection tower now offers a protected breeding and retreat area for a pair of Barn Owls and even a pair of Stock Doves. This is unique in Europe, as this species of wild dove usually breeds in tree hollows in forests!

This positive development has not gone unnoticed. Our first species protection tower project in Italy has attracted widespread interest in the surrounding area and is now inspiring private individuals and communities to convert their historic dovecotes into species protection towers, thereby putting cultural and historical buildings threatened with decay to good use and giving them a new lease of life.

This demonstrates that species conservation is not only necessary – it can also be contagious. Step by step, from a single tower, a network of valuable species conservation habitats is being created, which will strengthen the future of endangered building breeding birds in the region in a sustainable manner.

The winter thrush stopover on Cyprus has come to an end – and it has brought unpleasant surprises not only for song thrushes, but also for many bird poachers and hunters... 
Even halfway through this year's Winter Bird Protection Camp, our bird conservationists were still hard at work at night and early in the morning, searching for trapping sites, rescuing Song Thrushes, dismantling migratory bird-trapping devices, and reporting bird poachers and illegal bird hunters.
 
During nighttime operations, our bird protection activists rendered three additional trapping sites harmless by removing mist nets. During early morning operations, they caught two bird poachers red-handed as they were trapping birds with limesticks. Two more bird hunters were caught using illegal electronic bird call devices and reported to the authorities.  
 
One of the bird poachers caught with limesticks had built a permanent aviary in which 15 Song Thrushes and 3 Wood Pigeons were being kept illegally. All the birds had been caught in the wild and did not have officially registered rings. As a result of our criminal complaint, the head of the state gamekeeper organisation informed us that this bird poacher would be ‘rewarded’ with an extra penalty for illegally caging wild birds and that all birds would be released.



Final results of the Cyprus Winter Bird Protection Camp (6 weeks):

Illegal trapping and poaching

• 32 bird trapping sites located
• 22 bird trapping sites were active
• 101 limesticks dismantled and destroyed
• 13 illegal mist nets dismantled
• 3 electronic bird callers dismantled
• 4 charges brought against illegal bird poachers 

Illegal bird hunters

• 31 Hunting sites with illegal activities located
• 9 electronic bird callers dismantled
• 6 charges brought against illegal bird hunters 

As the massive migration of Song Thrushes over Cyprus ended in mid-February this winter, our bird conservationists were able to wrap up this year's winter migratory bird conservation camp on 17 February 2026 and begin their well-deserved journey home.
 
We can therefore expect the first Song Thrushes and Mistle Thrushes to arrive in their breeding grounds in Germany as early as the end of February 2026. Although our volunteer bird conservationists have said ‘farewell’ to Cyprus for the time being, we will be back in Cyprus in April at the latest to continue our work protecting migratory birds and, as always, we will be flying the flag for courageous and effective migratory bird conservation.

Cyprus: Once again this year, the winter culling of song thrushes has cost the lives of thousands of birds seeking rest and nourishment
The relatively sparse illegal bird trapping and hunting activities at the beginning of 2026 received a massive boost on 27 January 2024, triggered by thousands of Song Thrushes flying into Cyprus. They stopped over on Cyprus to rest and forage during their spring migration back north.
 
Our bird conservationists were well prepared for the surge in illegal hunting and trapping, and in the first week after the thrushes arrived, three illegal hunters and one bird trapper were caught in the act and reported to the authorities.
With the support of the Cypriot police and the Game Service, five illegal mistnets were dismantled and confiscated in a single night.
 
Results so far from the Cyprus Winter Bird Protection Camp (5 weeks):
 
Illegal bird trapping

• 25 bird trapping sites located
• 15 active bird trapping sites
• 67 limesticks dismantled anddestroyed
• 6 illegal mist nets dismantled
• 2 electronic bird callers dismantled
• 2 charges brought against illegal bird trappers 

Illegal bird hunting

• 25 hunting sites with illegal activity located
• 6 electronic bird callers dismantled
• 4 charges brought against illegal bird hunters 

As the massive migration of Song Thrushes continued over Cyprus, our bird conservationists were out every night and early in the morning to prevent illegal bird hunting and trapping activities. More information will follow in a second Cyprus Winter Report 2026.

Cutting (pollarding) old willow trees to secure and protect natural Little Owl nesting and breeding sites is not a job for the faint-hearted
The persistent cold winter weather, with light frost at night, this January in East Westphalia, in the districts of Paderborn, Gütersloh and Soest, has allowed our volunteer Little Owl conservationists and the tree care company we employ to rapidly pollard the willow trees that were selected by our colleague Herbert in summer 2025 and contractually agreed for maintenance.
 
Of the 780 willow trees we planned to prune this winter, from early November 2025 to late February 2026, more than 550 trees have already been professionally ‘topped’, putting us ahead of schedule.
 
We therefore want to continue to take advantage of the frosty weather, which is ideal for this hard work, and, if the weather remains cold, create up to 900 pollarded willow trees this winter... that would be a record number of well-maintained willow trees. See also the chart below.

We extend our heartfelt Christmas and New Year wishes, along with our sincere thanks, to all who have supported our Foundation's work for the benefit of nature and biodiversity with such dedication and commitment throughout 2025.
Despite political and economic changes in Germany and around the world, our 23rd year of work in species conservation was positive and successful for our nature and species protection projects. Thanks to the continued financial support of many long-standing, loyal donors and sponsors, as well as new donors and sponsors, we were able to consistently conduct our statutory project work in 2025. Once again, you deserve our heartfelt thanks.

We would also like to express our heartfelt thanks to the tenants and area managers of our Foundation's nature conservation areas for implementing our statutory objectives, and the species protection land use guidelines designed for this purpose, with great competence and passionate conviction for the benefit and consolidation of our biotope habitats and the diversity of wildlife species that is found there.  

We are well prepared and optimistic as we enter our 24th year of work in species protection, and we will continue to develop our existing nature and species conservation projects with great passion. We are particularly looking forward to working with you to successfully address the challenges ahead for new nature and species conservation projects in Germany and Italy.

The teams at the Foundation Pro Biodiversity in Bielefeld and Sicily wish you and your families a peaceful and joyous Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year in 2026!

Thank you for your loyalty and your continued support.

 

Cyprus Bird Protection Camp / Final Report Autumn 2025
The Autumn Bird Protection Camp special operations ‘Occupy Akas’ and ‘Dead Air’ required our bird protection teams to carry out extensive and time-consuming on-site preparations for the missions and a variety of media activities. However, the results were well worth the effort.
 
The Autumn Bird Protection Camp, which has now come to an end, will be remembered as a milestone in our bird protection efforts against the ‘big players’ in the bird slaughter business in Cyprus. For many years, we have fought in vain against the mass industrialised illegal trapping of migratory birds by ‘Akas’ and ‘Trikkis’ (our code names). Their social status and influence, as well as their extensive network in the bird slaughter scene, have regularly prevented even politicians and the police from consistently enforcing the applicable laws.
 
The previous ‘cheap’ fines did not prevent their bird slaughter activities for even a single day. With our actions this year and the extensive publications and professional media work, the police could no longer ignore these serious violations of the applicable EU Birds Directive and Cypriot nature conservation laws. As a result, an anti-terrorism police unit was also deployed during police operations on the properties of ‘Akas’ and ‘Trikkis’. ‘Akas’ was caught three times engaging in illegal bird trapping with nets, and ‘Trikkis’ five times!

The result was that these bird slaughter professionals finally received hefty fines totalling almost €150,000! In bird-slaughter currency, this corresponds to the proceeds from 40,000 to 50,000 illegally killed songbirds, which small-time bird poachers can obtain from black-market bird dealers.
 
The successes against the ‘big players’ did not dissuade our bird protection teams from investing another eight weeks of work in searching for trapping and hunting sites, monitoring and documenting illegal bird trapping and hunting activities in a manner admissible in court, dismantling illegal trapping equipment and filing further criminal charges.
 
The overall results of this year's autumn bird protection camp in Cyprus are equally impressive.

Overall results of the CABS & SPA Autumn Bird Protection Camp 2025 on Cyprus
(10 September – 25 November):
 
Bird trappers / illegal bird hunters

• 105 illegal bird trapping sites located and monitored
• 1,547 illegal limesticks dismantled
• 137 illegal mist nets dismantled
• 89 electronic bird call devices (51 for trapping / 38 for hunting) dismantled
• 55 bird poachers (35 trappers / 20 hunters) caught and charges filed 

The good news for migratory birds that have chosen Cyprus as their wintering ground is also bad news for Cyprus's bird poachers and hunters: Cyprus, we'll be back. Our bird conservationists will soon return for the Winter Bird Protection Camp on Cyprus... That's a promise!

2nd Cyprus Bird Protection Camp Report 2025
The special operations “Occupy Akas” and “Dead Air” have also brought very positive results. Although both operations ran only for several days and ended around 2 weeks ago, they achieved results that had never been accomplished before. The Cyprus Police finally recognised professional trapping as a serious issue that needs to be dealt with.
 
They carried out several well-organised anti-poaching operations against the two biggest trappers in Cyprus: Akas and Trikkis. In total, the Cyprus Police seized 15 nets from Akas and 16 nets from Trikkis. During one particularly successful operation at the Akas site, police found seven nets set and freed 350 migrating birds from the nets. At Trikkis' site, police found 11 nets set and freed 150 birds. A further 150 birds were already dead when police officers arrived at the trapping location.
 
As a result of police operations, Akas has been issued a fine totalling 30,000 euros. Trikkis was fined the same amount. It is the first time in the history of our Cyprus Bird Protection Camps that the big trappers were confronted with such hefty fines.
 

Overall results of the CABS & SPA Autumn Bird Protection Camp 2025 in Cyprus from 10 September to 10. October:
 
Bird trappers

• 68 active illegal bird-trapping sites found and monitored
• 1,124 illegal limesticks dismantled
• 55 illegal mist nets dismantled
• 28 electronic birdcall decoys dismantled
• 25 bird poachers caught and charges filed 

Bird hunters

• 17 active illegal bird hunting sites found and monitored
• 1 bird hunter caught with an electronic bird call decoy and charges filed
• 1 bird hunter caught shooting sparrows and charges filed
• 5 electronic birdcall decoys dismantled 

We hope very much that the Cyprus Police will continue such consequent operations against big trappers until the end of the autumn bird migration period and the corresponding trapping season. This is the only way to put a stop to professional bird poaching, which makes a lot of money from illegally killed songbirds.

1st Cyprus Autumn Bird Camp Report
This autumn bird protection camp mission will be something that Cyprus's biggest professional bird poacher, known under the pseudonym Akas, will never forget for the rest of his life!
 
For days, bird conservation teams demonstrated in front of his massive trapping facility with posters and live video broadcasts on social media, and unlike in previous years, the police finally showed up at his property and confiscated two huge mist nets. Caught red-handed in the act of illegal bird trapping, Akas also received a hefty fine.
 
Our bird conservationists received media support for this ‘STOP Bird Slaughter’ protest campaign from Chris Packham, a well-known BBC reporter and active bird conservationist in England, who reported live to England via the BBC and lent a hand himself in dismantling illegal limesticks and nets. His report can be found at the link at the end of this report.

In addition to these ‘special bird protection operations’, the other results of the bird protection camp are also noteworthy. In addition to Akas, a team of bird conservationists caught another large-scale professional bird poacher. He had set up a total of 270 limesticks on his property, along with an electronic bird call device, and was illegally catching up to 100 songbirds daily.
  .
Results of the Cyprus Autumn Bird Protection Camp (2 weeks in September 2025)
 
Bird trappers

• 29 active illegal trapping sites found and monitored
• 598 illegal limesticks dismantled
• 7 electronic bird call decoys dismantled
• 10 bird trappers caught and reported to the authorities 

Bird hunters

• 10 Active illegal bird hunting sites found and monitored
• 1 bird hunter caught with an electronic bird call decoy and charged
• 2 electronic bird call decoys dismantled

    ► Link: https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisGPackham

The preliminary work was lengthy and sometimes very difficult, but a milestone has now been reached at the "Schimmels Teiche" near Limbach-Oberfrohna in Saxony …
After completing approximately one and a half kilometres of sturdy electric pasture fencing, two water buffaloes have now joined the three hungry billy goats in our unique biotope with nine former fish ponds. And with a Scottish Highland cow arriving soon, we will have further reinforcement for biotope maintenance!

With their almost limitless appetite, these animals not only ensure that blackberries, shrubs and invasive Japanese knotweed are kept at bay on the pond banks, but also reduce the excessive growth of bullrushes in the ponds. These still benefit from the mud at the bottom of the ponds, which is heavily fertilised by fish excrement.

Only by reducing the biomass in and around the ponds will the water bodies and pond banks be able to develop in a variety of ways and, following the end of intensive fish farming four years ago, become species-rich biotopes.

Building the pasture fence was not the only challenge on the approximately 12-hectare pond area, which has been owned by our foundation since 2023. The extensive renovation of the pond drains, repairs to the stream inlets and  careful reed cutting in an overgrown pond required a lot of work and also cost a considerable amount of donated money. Further biotope work is planned for the coming winter half-year 25/26.

The presence of the semi-wild grazing animals and the sturdy, electrified fence will also ensure that, after years of unauthorised trespassing and recreational use of our property, peace and tranquillity will finally return to this ecologically sensitive pond area.

From now on, the focus here is no longer about human activities, but about protecting the habitat of endangered bird species such as Marsh Harriers, Bluethroats and Reed Warblers, and endangered amphibians such as the Common Spadefoot Toad and the Smooth Newt.

Conservationists from the Limbach-Oberfrohna region, including well-known ornithologists, are already enthusiastic about our pond project, which will certainly bring many positive benefits for biodiversity, which is under threat in many places, over the next few years!

After extensive biotope restoration work for our migratory bird sanctuary Pantani Cuba & Longarini, biotope maintenance work is now increasingly on the agenda
Just as nature in Germany is confronted with invasive wild plants such as Siberian hogweed, Canadian goldenrod and Japanese knotweed, and wildlife such as raccoons, raccoon dogs and Asian hornets, which have no natural enemies here, invasive wild animals and plants from Africa and South America are increasingly colonising Mediterranean countries.

Since 2013, we have been quite successful in halting, limiting or, ideally, ending this development in our Pantani Cuba & Longarini migratory bird sanctuary. Since the extremely dry years of 2023–2024, the invasive plant amaranth, which is native to Central America and is highly prolific in terms of growth and reproduction, has begun to colonise the edges of the reed belt in our sanctuary in Pantano Cuba and Longarini, where it is already forming dominant populations in some areas.

Once again, we owe a debt of gratitude to the tireless efforts of the members of the local nature conservation group "Pirati della Marza" (Pirates of Marza), who have been helping for years with hundreds of hours of voluntary work to make our Pantani nature reserve a paradise for Mediterranean flora and fauna.

In July, despite the high temperatures, a group of loyal Pirati volunteers worked in our Pantani reserve to suppress amaranth, one of the oldest crops in South and Central America. Before hundreds of ripe ears could scatter millions of seeds, the amaranth plants were cut down individually by hand at the base, their ears collected and stored in plastic bags to be composted.

Through the targeted collection of the ears, this invasive plant species was removed from our nature reserve's reed and meadow habitats. The 'seed harvest' filled 12 sacks, each with a capacity of 100 litres. 

Inauguration of our 38th species protection tower, this time in the Rural District of Salzland, Saxony-Anhalt
Under the watchful eyes of the first residents to move in – a Starling, a Great Tit and a Blue Tit – we were able to inaugurate our 38th species protection tower on 24 June 2025 with a small celebration in  Winningen suburb of Aschersleben. The craftsmen involved in the construction, the district mayor, and the mayor of Aschersleben joined the numerous children from the nearby Winningen daycare centre in celebrating ‘their new species protection tower’. The children proudly presented their large banner with pictures they had painted themselves of the animal and bird residents they expect to see in the tower in the future.

The idyllically located transformer station supplied the small village of Winningen with electricity for more than 100 years before it was decommissioned in 2023. Discovered during one of our regular work assignments in our nearby nature reserve ‘Seeländereien bei Frose’, we quickly agreed with the regional energy supplier and the town of Aschersleben in April 2024 to take ownership of the listed industrial monument and convert it into a species protection tower adapted to its location.

Renovation work on the species protection tower began in autumn 2024 and, following a break during the winter, was completed in time for the 2025 breeding season. The old transformer tower station now serves a new and meaningful purpose as a species protection tower in Winningen, providing a future-proof roof over the heads of Barn Owls, Jackdaws, Swifts, House Martins, Starlings, Tree Sparrows, House Sparrows, White Wagtails and several bat species.

We hope the children's enthusiasm in Winningen for their new species protection tower will rub off on their parents, inspiring them to create suitable habitats for the wild animals inhabiting their property and gardens. It doesn't take much effort!

The conversion costs for the new species protection tower in Winningen, amounting to just under €30,000, were financed by our Pro Biodiversity Foundation from private donations earmarked for this purpose.

Unlike this spring, the extremely dry year of 2024 in Sicily offered little chance for the successful breeding and rearing of young ground-nesting birds in wetlands and lagoons.
In the sweltering heat of summer 2024, with temperatures reaching +45°C, up to 50 schoolchildren took the opportunity to tirelessly clear the bird breeding islands we had created in the Pantano Longarini lagoon of vegetation that had grown up, thereby creating perfect breeding habitat conditions for ground-nesting bird species such as the Greater Flamingo, the Stone Curlew, Black-winged Stilt, Little Tern and the Collared Pratincole, which is breeding in the lagoon area for the first time this year.

And, to our great delight, this spring seven species of birds are using them, some of which have become rare, including those that only breed in colonies, such as Greater Flamingos and Little Terns!    

In the coming weeks, we will be able to show schoolchildren the fruits of their hard work last summer, which is perfect for ground-nesting birds, and give them a personal sense of achievement in nature.