Germany's Lapwing Project: Farmers and Conservationists Unite for Endangered Bird

The plight of the lapwing, a bird once common and now "severely endangered," highlights the ongoing struggle to balance agricultural needs with environmental protection in Germany. Our colleagues at Die Zeit report on a dedicated project in Hamburg's Vier- und Marschlande region where conservationists like Ilka Nüske are working directly with farmers to safeguard these vulnerable birds.

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If it is hungry and cannot find earthworms, it taps its feet on the ground to simulate rain, and that cleverly attracts the earthworms out of the ground!

Nüske's work, involving identifying and protecting lapwing nests on farmland, is crucial. With lapwing populations plummeting by 56% in Hamburg since 2000, the bird's reliance on agricultural fields for nesting due to habitat loss is a stark reality. The project's success, evidenced by a rise in participating farms and a significant increase in protected nests from 58 in 2024 to 132 last year, demonstrates a growing, albeit fragile, cooperation.

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severely endangered

While the project is described as a "crutch," it's an effective one that facilitates a "good dialogue" between farmers and conservationists. The ultimate goal, as Nüske points out, is to restore landscapes that naturally favor lapwings—moist, open areas with shallow waters. However, the complexity of such restoration means that these targeted nest-protection efforts are vital for the species' survival. The lapwing, as a "flagship species," indirectly aids the conservation of many other species and habitats, underscoring the broader significance of this local initiative.

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The best thing would be to restore the landscape overall so that it appeals more to the lapwings.