More than 93,000 birds recorded at EuroBirdwatch in Switzerland

This weekend, the EuroBirdwatch operation attracted more than 3,000 people who came to observe avifauna throughout Switzerland. In total, more than 93,000 birds have been recorded. With more than 30,000 individuals, the chaffinch was the most common species.

BirdLife Switzerland has been organizing the operation for more than 30 years, the organization recalled in a press release on Monday. Its members as well as ornithological circles welcomed the public interested in the phenomenon of bird migration in 53 observation posts.

During this edition, three species stood out: after the chaffinch, the starling (13,000 individuals) and the house martin (around 11,000) were the most represented. Butterflies were also numerous at the observation sites.

On the heights of the passes, a significant frequency of red admirals – one of the rare native migratory butterflies – has in fact been reported. On Sunday, after a thick fog, the sun warmed the air which, coupled with the north wind, carried these insects south, explains BirdLife Switzerland.

The nature protection organization welcomes this, because insects are generally in sharp decline. A disappearance which has a direct impact on many migratory birds that feed on insects.

The EuroBirdwatch operation was carried out in 34 countries in Europe and Central Asia. Overall, 24,000 participants counted around 3.5 million birds.

/ATS