Climate change means that it will get warmer earlier. This also ensures that nature wakes up earlier from its hibernation. Although it is pleasant for humans, it can cause confusion in the animal kingdom.
Clapping storks, early budding crocuses and an alder in bloom: forester Kees van Son is thoroughly enjoying early spring. “I like it for us humans. But it is also worrying.”
Because nature responds to early spring. And that, says Van Son, can cause problems. “Take the great tit, for example. It will lay eggs at a certain time and then it will do this in such a way that the hatching of those eggs ‘matches’ with spring. That can sometimes go wrong, because another cold period will come. “
In addition, food is sometimes insufficient to keep the birds alive. “If there are not enough caterpillars, but many mouths to feed, then young birds may not survive.”
From his own observations, Van Son notices that the cranes he loves are moving south less and less. “Storks simply winter in the Netherlands.” Good news for a bird lover, “but actually it shouldn’t be that way.”
Climate change may cause imbalances in nature, but according to Van Son, this is not yet noticeable in the Drentsche Aa area. “Look around you, it looks beautiful here. In a few months it will burst into bloom again. Then it will be a big sea of flowers here.”