Fishing eagle couple at Ammersee: young birds ready for the big adventure

Fishing eagle couple at Ammersee: young birds ready for the big adventure

A fascinating natural spectacle is currently on Ammersee: a pair of fish eagle has settled in the region, and the professional world is impressed by this rare event. The settlement of these majestic birds of prey south of the Danube ensures astonishment and joy, especially after two young birds were successfully raised in the spring of this year.

The original message about the settlement came in spring when ornithologists and conservationists discovered that a fish eagle had successfully built a nest. This discovery was monitored by the state bird protection station, which works closely with the State Office for the Environment Bavaria. The experts were enthusiastic about the two young birds, who are now flying, but are still dependent on the food by their parents.

rare breeding sites and species protection

The settlement of the fish eagles on Lake Ammersee is not only an encouraging sign of species protection, but also reflects the successes of the Aries aid program. This program was launched to protect the nesting places of the fish eagles, especially in areas such as the Upper Palatinate, where most breeding pairs are registered in Bavaria. Nevertheless, the settlement in Dießen is unique because it is the only breeding ground in this region and has historical importance: the last secured brood settlement in Bavaria was 1992.

The living observation of the eagles attracts nature lovers, including Burkhard Quinger, a graduate biologist and geobotanist from Herrsching. He can often be found at the bird observation tower to admire the impressive flight skills of the young eagles. Quinger describes the majestic flight style of the fish eagles, which use a remarkable technique when catching fish: they dive into the water at an extremely steep angle and can easily dive up to 50 centimeters deep.

These processes do not remain without challenges. The location of the nest on a dead tree carries risks, since the tree will no longer be viable. In order to minimize disorders caused by human activities, special protective measures such as a buoy chain and rest periods were introduced in the area. The AMMersee-Südufer nature reserve, in which the nest is located, is designed in such a way that water sports enthusiasts and other leisure users are asked to avoid the area.

The ornithologists and conservationists hope that the fish eagle pair will remain in the region in the future. However, it is not unusual that the young birds do not return near their place of birth after their first trip to the south. Rather, it is likely that they will look for new breeding areas, while the parents will be proven their usual horst again next year. These fascinating birds are expected to be in the region until the beginning of October before flying to their winter quarters in the middle and southern parts of Africa.

The observations from the region are a ray of hope in the endeavor to stabilize the eagle population in Bavaria. Both the protection of the nesting places and the sensitization of the public play an important role in preserving these majestic birds. The excitement about the return of the fish eagles after hundreds of years reminds of how important it is to stand up for the protection of natural habitats.