Dutch grassland bird news

This video is about a redshank (and a meadow pipit) on a fence in Zeeland province in the Netherlands.

Redshanks and other grassland bird species live in South Holland province as well.

Translated from the Weidoptie site in South Holland province:

This morning the Overwater [farming] family at the Oudendijk in Strijen started the first Weidoptie solar pump working. This pump makes it possible to convert one hectare of pasture into wetland area. The solar pump is funded by donations from the Weidoptie campaign of Nature and Environment Federation of South Holland. The campaign of the environmental federation wants to give a future to the South Holland grassland birds.

The solar pump in spring pumps water onto the pasture where wet and muddy spots emerge then. Grassland birds need these wet meadows. In the wet, soft soil the birds with their long beaks can look well for food. Also flowery and diverse grassland, which is so important for grassland birds, grows best in moist soil.

Translated from the site of the Dutch Socialist Party in South Holland:

15 March 2016 • The SP wants to take more into account the breeding season of grassland birds in granting hunting licenses. This says caucus chairwoman Lies van Aelst in written questions about the exemption granted for unlimited hunting of gray leg geese and white-fronted geese until early spring. The meadow birds in South Holland are under considerable pressure. This makes an undisturbed breeding season even more important.

On 13 March, the first South Holland northern lapwing egg of 2016 was found, by bird-friendly farmer Arie van Nierop near Maasland.

The Biesbosch national park turns out to be important for migrating black-tailed godwits.

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