The breeding season in nature has begun. For that reason, nature managers call on not to get rid of the walking, cycling and bridle paths. Because this way you can disturb breeding birds, young animals and their parents. Sometimes parts of areas are temporarily completely closed.
In some areas no more dogs are allowed to come. Such as on the Aekingerzand in the Drents-Friese Wold. “That is because here birds breed that really make their nest right next to the hiking trails on the border of the sand plains and the heath. Such as the tree lark and the Tapuit”. explains forester Lysander van Oossanen of Staatsbosbeheer.
In nature reserves where dogs are also welcome during the breeding season, the following applies: keep them briefly on a leash. “And be careful, because if you walk with a long line and your dog shoots off the path, he sits in a nest with his snout,” says Van Oossanen. There is a chance that eggs will be kicked or eaten. It is also possible that the disruption is so large that the parents will not return.
But people also have to watch out. A lot is played on the Aekingerzand and people explain rugs to sunbathe. “Do not do that on the edge of the sand and the heath or next to the paths. Because you’re sitting on a nest,” says Van Oossanen. “And here too: if you stay in one place for a long time, you have the chance that the parents will no longer feed the young birds. That makes them still die.”
To make people more aware of the vulnerable period in nature, nature organizations launch the ‘Kraamkamer van Natuur’ campaign every year. It must lead to animals getting extra rest and space in nature reserves during the breeding season, so that they can find a suitable place to mate and breed and get boy. In some cases, paths or routes are temporarily closed or diverted to visitors. Van Oosanen: “And take your waste with you. Plastic is especially disastrous, all the way for boy.”
Research shows that four in five Dutch people believe that animals are entitled to extra rest during this period. Moreover, 74 percent of the respondents think that the breeding season is becoming increasingly important, especially because nature is under pressure. This is apparent from a representative study among more than 1,000 Dutch people, commissioned by Natuurmonumenten, Staatsbosbeheer and LandscapesNL.
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