Climate Change Drives Divergent Trends in German Bird Populations
Germany's bird populations show divergent trends with warming-favoring species increasing, agricultural birds declining, and large birds benefiting from conservation.
- • Warm-loving birds like bee-eater and hoopoe benefit from climate change and are expanding northward.
- • Species with moderate temperature needs, especially in agricultural areas, see dramatic declines.
- • Large birds such as the Eurasian eagle-owl have increased due to conservation efforts.
- • Around 40% of regularly breeding bird species increased from 2010 to 2022; 30% declined.
Key details
A recent comprehensive report commissioned by Germany's Federal Agency for Nature Conservation highlights significant shifts in bird populations between 2010 and 2022, linked closely to climate change and agricultural practices. Warmer-loving species such as the bee-eater, hoopoe, corn bunting, and purple heron have expanded their breeding areas northward, benefiting from milder winters. This warming trend has supported population increases in these species. Meanwhile, birds favoring moderate temperatures face declines, especially in agricultural landscapes, with notable drops in species like the grey partridge, lapwing, curlew, and corncrake.\n\nLarge bird species including the Eurasian eagle-owl (Uhu), great bustard, crane, and white-tailed eagle have seen positive trends, attributed to effective conservation programs and reduced persecution. The Uhu population alone exceeds 4,000 breeding pairs, underscoring conservation success. Protected bird areas have proven effective, with around 40% of regularly breeding bird species showing increases within these zones. However, 30% of species still experience declines, and stable populations are decreasing overall.\n\nExperts urge heightened efforts in biodiversity conservation to address the contrasting fortunes among bird species caused by climate impacts and ongoing agricultural pressures. The findings are grounded in extensive monitoring involving thousands of volunteers across Germany, painting a nuanced picture of ecological change in the country's avian communities.