Call for public election

This time it is time to take part in the election for Bird of the Year. (Image: NABU)

So far, a committee has chosen the “Bird of the Year” – for the 50th anniversary of this campaign, the people will decide for the first time: From now on all bird lovers can choose their favorite from 307 species living in Germany on an internet platform and as a candidate for the bird of the year Nominate in 2021. With the public election, the organizers of the campaign want to raise awareness of our endangered bird life in a special way.

It all started with the peregrine falcon: for the first time in 1971, the Nature Conservation Union Germany (NABU) and the State Association for Bird Protection in Bavaria (LBV) named a bird of the year. Since then, the two organizations have continuously brought the spotlight to a new feathered resident of our country. This year the turtledove is the title holder. The campaign was a great success from the start: The bird of the year received public attention and with it the entire domestic bird world, including its sometimes dire problems. “The campaign has been a success story for half a century. Especially in times when people are rediscovering nature on their own doorstep, interest in the local bird life and biodiversity increases, ”says Norbert Schäffe from the LBV.

Nominate your favorite

For the anniversary, the organizations have now decided on a special selection process. So far, a committee made up of experts from NABU and LBV has chosen the bird. “Now, for the first time, citizens can vote for the bird of the year themselves. Whether robin, white stork or kingfisher – many people in Germany have a favorite bird or want to do something to protect a certain species, ”says Leif Miller from NABU. Now there is the opportunity to take action.

The public election is to run in two phases: From now on everyone can nominate their favorite at www.vogeldesjahres.de. The top ten candidates will then be determined from the results of this public election by December 15. The ten bird species most nominated by the population will then go into the final race for the title from January 18th. On March 19, 2021, NABU and LBV will announce the first publicly elected bird of the year.

The bird that is close to your heart can be found quite easily on the website in a list with pictures and additional information. All breeding species in Germany as well as the most important guest birds are available – a total of 307 candidates. The participants can even run an election campaign for their favorite bird using a “election generator”: With this they can design an election poster and invite friends via social networks to support their own favorite bird as well. Which species has the beak in front when choosing can be seen in a bird ranking.

The bird world needs attention

“We call on everyone to take part in the election, because our endangered bird world urgently needs more attention,” says Miller. Around 45 percent of the native breeding bird species are on the “Red List of Threatened Species”, and another seven percent are on the corresponding warning list. The situation of the lapwing, partridge and skylark and many other bird species in the agricultural landscape is particularly worrying, emphasizes the NABU. Overall, Germany has recorded a population decrease of 34 percent among field birds since 1980. “The intensification of agriculture continues unchecked”, says Lars Lachmann from NABU. “They can no longer find food in the huge, empty monoculture landscapes, even the edges of fields and roads are getting smaller. We urgently need changes in agriculture to save the field birds, ”said the animal rights activist.

However, many other bird species are also struggling with problems. For example, common swifts lose their breeding grounds when buildings are renovated, and climate change is already causing problems for some species. In order to select your personal favorite when nominated for Bird of the Year 2021, you can therefore also be guided by the degree of threat to the species when navigating on www.vogeldesjahres.de.

More information and participation in the voting:
www.vogeldesjahres.de

Bird portraits:
www.nabu.de/vogelportraits

Source: NABU

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