Court stops crow shooting: Noise protection in the Wesermarsch remains uncertain!

Court stops crow shooting: Noise protection in the Wesermarsch remains uncertain!

There is currently a hot topic of discussion in the Wesermarsch: the planned shooting of up to 900 rooks, which was supposed to begin on September 1st, has been temporarily stopped due to a legal dispute. The Nabu nature conservation association and other environmental associations are defending themselves against this measure after the district wanted to authorize the hunting of the protected birds in order to reduce massive noise pollution. This was caused by large colonies of rooks in Nordenham, Elsfleth and Oldenbrok-Mittelort, which are driving local residents to despair.

The planned shooting campaigns plan to specifically target the crows outside the towns in meadows and fields. According to the authorities, there are numerous complaints about noise, litter and nest looting. The crows are responsible for, among other things, declines in ground-nesting birds such as the lapwing, which makes the situation for local animal species even more tense. Experts counted almost 7,000 nests in the district and determined that the loudness of crows cawing was harmful to health. Despite these arguments, Nabu has serious concerns and questions the health risks.

Litigation and nature conservation

The dispute between Nabu and the district has already reached the courts. After the district rejected an objection, Nabu turned to the Oldenburg Administrative Court, which would like to make an urgent decision as soon as possible. The district argues that the noise measurements, which demonstrate a health risk to residents, cannot be ignored. Nabu, on the other hand, doubts the transferability of these measurements and argues that the situation is not as dramatic as portrayed.

A careful eye should also be cast on the prehistory of the rook. This species was nearly extinct in the 1970s and recovered through conservation programs. Now, in this time of plenty, it is seen as the problem, showing that wildlife management is often influenced by self-interest and agriculture. The use of artificial intelligence to mimic bird calls and discourage birds from building nests in residential areas is another example of how innovative one can be in trying to deal with wildlife.

A difficult balance

The conflict surrounding the rooks is not an isolated case. Similar difficulties exist in other regions where animal neighbors can disrupt people's lives. The WWF warns that the loss of habitat brings with it many ecological, social and economic challenges. In extreme cases, these can lead to people seeing the animals as a threat to themselves and their agriculture. And so protective measures lead to hysterical demands for radical solutions, such as shooting them, to protect themselves and their crops.

The next few weeks will show whether and how the legal dispute over the rooks progresses and what decisions the Oldenburg Administrative Court will make. What is clear, however, is that the balance between nature conservation and the interests of local residents is a constant challenge. The county faces a difficult task, with the return of the rooks potentially drowning out the chattering of local residents.

For anyone interested, we would like to point out the background again here: NWZonline reports that the shooting has been suspended for the time being, while NDR reports on the noise pollution and the nests informed. In addition, the WWF points out the risks of species extinction, which are often triggered by such conflicts.