As many as 300 million breeding pairs have disappeared throughout Europe in 30 years. This is a loss of 57% .2 The causes include the increasing destruction of habitats and a reduction in food supply due to the deterioration of insect species. Also in the Netherlands it does not go well with many bird species. In addition, 53 million birds are shot every year at European level. A large proportion of them are migratory birds, which are in acute danger or threatened with extinction in some Member States. This is evidenced by a German study by Komitees gegen den Vogelmord. “Even if hunting is not the main cause of the death of the birds, it accelerates the decline,” says Axel Hirschfeld, board member of the nature conservation organisation founded in 1975. The hunting is partly responsible for the decline of many bird species.

Jessica Smit, campaign leader Animal Rights: “The numbers are dramatically high. The hunting is partly responsible for the decline of many bird species.”

HUNTING DOES NOT HELP WILDLIFE

The kievit, turtle dove and lark are protected in Germany, but are shot by hundreds of thousands at the same time during the migration to the south. The wulp, a beloved meadow bird, is strictly protected in the Netherlands and Belgium. Ten metres across the Belgian border, on the French coast, the decoys are already ready to shoot wulps. In France this bird can only be hunted on the coast, but they use that coastal region for their migration and to orient themselves on the route to the south. France may want to allow the hunt for the Gretto again by 2020. Jessica Smit: “Draconian measures are being taken in the Netherlands to protect meadow birds, including by hunting crows and foxes. While these and other birds are being shot in the rest of Europe. This is a terribly outdone hobby with only one loser: wild animals.”

Decrease of bird species