European wildlife conservation efforts show success for storks and owls

Regional wildlife conservation efforts are showing progress in Central Europe. In Switzerland, white stork populations have expanded significantly, with many pairs now successfully raising young in the region, though some local farmers have expressed concerns regarding their presence.

In the border region between Salzburg, Austria, and Bavaria, Germany, a cross-border Interreg project focused on barn owls has reported its first breeding successes. To combat the loss of natural nesting sites caused by the renovation or demolition of old farm buildings, approximately 30 farmers are providing safe nesting locations, such as barns and haylofts. The project, managed by Haus der Natur in Salzburg and the Landesbund für Vogel- und Naturschutz in Bavaria, utilizes EU funding to install nesting boxes to secure the population of these birds, which serve as natural pest control by hunting mice.