A video of a Defense helicopter flying so low above a nature reserve that it almost kisses the ground also stirs a lot of dust figuratively. The blades of the Apache cause the water to rise between Woudrichem en Wijk and Aalburg and you can see the birds fleeing. The man who posted the video on Twitter writes: “Come on, it’s breeding season!” He gets a lot of support from other Twitter users.
Former Member of Parliament Hermen Vreugdenhil, among others, shares the images on Twitter. A fuss about low-flying helicopters during the breeding season is not new, the politician knows. “It is an annual phenomenon. That does not make it more digestible, by the way.”
“This is absurd. Especially when you consider how much effort and money is being put into providing food and safety for meadow birds here,” tweeter Joachem Sloothaak responds. “What rude behavior”, Anja van Gerwen said on Twitter. “Disgraceful”, Arco Heuvelman responds briefly.
Jos Schenkeveld, forester of the area in question, is also aware of the anger. “I’ve been working here for 14 years now and I don’t know any better than that the Air Force practices here. There are certainly no walkers in this wet area, no trees, which makes it an ideal training ground,” he concludes somewhat bitterly.
Defense spokesman Wilko ter Horst-Destra explains: “The Maas-Waal area is a low-flying area where the air force can train.” He continues: “It’s not that we intentionally want to disturb nature during the breeding season. We even take it into account, but sometimes it has to be done. Nobody wants a goose between the wings. That is dangerous for people and animal.”
Incidentally, the defense spokesman says that there have been fewer complaints about nuisance since the outbreak of the war between Russia and Ukraine. “I don’t have any figures ready, but there are fewer complaints about noise pollution and low flying over. I think there is more understanding for the defense that wants to train its people properly. Not to downplay the nuisance, but we notice that animals also get used to fighter jets.” and helicopters. People and dogs are sometimes more disruptive.”
Forest ranger Schenkeveld tells that frightened birds leave their nest with eggs. And indeed hikers can disturb birds. “Then the eggs get cold. If the sun is out and the temperature is pleasant, that shouldn’t be a problem. On days with rain and cold, like last week, eggs sometimes don’t hatch and that’s sad.”
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