The populations have declined enormously: the lapwing is bird of the year 2024

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The endangered ground-nesting bird prevailed in the public vote with around 33,000 votes against little owls, partridges, barn swallows and honey buzzards, the German Nature Conservation Association (Nabu) announced on Thursday.

According to information, the plover gets its name from its distinctive call “Kie-wit”. The lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), which is about the size of a pigeon, has plumage that shines metallic green or purple in the light. The feather cap on the head is also striking. Lapwings originally lived in heathlands and wet meadows, but nowadays they breed in fields and meadows.

Since 2015 one of the endangered bird species

“With the lapwing, people have chosen a bird whose populations have declined enormously in recent decades as a result of the draining of wet meadows and more intensive agriculture,” Nabu explains.

Other reasons for the danger to the meadow bird are the lack of food due to the intensive use of pesticides and high meadows due to too much fertilization. It was said that wildlife-friendly farming and ‘rewetting wet meadows and fens’ could help the bird. Buying organic and regionally produced food helps in everyday life.

In 2015, the lapwing was added to the International Red List of endangered bird species. In 1996 he was already bird of the year. Nearly 120,000 people took part in this year’s vote.

(AFP)

Source: Blick