17.02.2010

Loved, hated, worth protection! The Cormorant - Bird of the Year 2010

The NABU Regional Association Calau e.V. introduces this controversial bird on Wednesday, February 24th at 6:00 p.m. with a photo presentation. Interested people are cordially invited to the White Stork Information Centre in Vetschau/Spree Forest, 2a Drebkau Street.

The Nature Protection Federation Germany (NABU) and the State Federation for Bird Protection in Bavaria (LBV) have chosen the cormorant as the "Bird of the Year 2010". Both federations want to aggressively champion the protection of cormorants, which, after their return to lakes and rivers, is again hunted by the thousands and driven away.

For decades, the cormorant had virtually disappeared from Germany - the result of intensive persecution by commercial and sport fishermen. Only after consistent protection about 24,000 brood pairs now live in Germany, of which more than half in large colonies in coastal regions. Their numbers have stabilized over the last years. "Under the pretext for weighted cormorant management several federal states have legislated cormorant regulations which undermine the existing protection of the birds", so NABU Vice-President Helmut Opitz. These regulations allow for the killing of cormorants independent of evidence of damage to fish stocks." The biological balance is shameful. Every about 15,000 cormorants are again killed - as so-called "Harmful Bird".

Cormorant neither destroy natural fish stocks nor endanger no fish species over the long haul. Rather, it is important to champion ecological improvements of our bodies of water - in order for all fish and water fowl to have space to live. In the opinion of NABU fish eating bird species such as the cormorant must be accepted as a natural part of the Ecosystem of our bodies of water.

Cormorants prefer to catch fish which they can capture without too much effort. For this reason economically inconsequential "White Fish" such as red eye and other small fish which frequent fodder-rich waters in large numbers make up much of their menu.

There are alternatives to the shooting and for the protection commercial fish facilities. These Winfried Boehmer will introduce during his presentation. He will answer questions and would like to show what can be done to secure a future for cormorants and fishermen in our waters.

Admission is 2.00 Euro. For members of MABU the admission is free. Cormorant brochures are available 1.50 Euro.

Winfried Boehmer
NABU Regional Association Calau e.V

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