Birds delight garden owners with their chirping and announce the warm season. However, garden lovers should think about the bird protection period when doing their work not to disturb native songbirds and your not to endanger brood. If the regulations on bird protection are not observed when trimming hedges and other work, there is also a risk hefty fines.
Breeding and setting time from March to September
The bird protection season is defined in Section 39 of the Federal Nature Act and is officially applicable from March 1st to September 30th of every year. However, different regulations apply in the individual federal states for the breeding and setting time. Birds and other wild animals should be able to breed and raise their young in peace during this time. The incubation and setting time serves to Protection and safeguarding of wild animal populations.
Fines for non-compliance with bird protection regulations
Garden owners who do not comply with the regulations and carry out gardening work that is prohibited during the bird protection period must expect high fines. These vary by state. In some federal states, there is a risk of chopping down unapproved trees Fines of up to 50,000 euros. How much garden owners have to pay also depends on the height and number of trees felled.
Tip: Find out about the tree protection statutes in your city or municipality. Expect checks from the authorities or reports from neighbors if you fell trees without a permit.
Protection of birds in the garden: ban on cutting hedges and felling trees
Nature conservation affects garden owners and provides for various regulations. The tree protection statute stipulates that you Do not cut down protected trees and do not cut back shrubs too much may. In principle, it is forbidden to cut off the following plants or plant them on the stick during the bird protection period (heavy pruning except for a few shoots):
- trees outside the forest
- short rotation plantations
- hedges
- bushes
- living fences
- land used for horticulture
During this time, you may not cut any reeds or clear water-bearing ditches with trenchers.
Gentle shaping and care cuts to keep trees healthy and to reduce growth are permitted. they may Cut back conifers and fruit trees in your home garden, but not too strong. If you were not able to fell trees or make heavy cuts by the end of February, you must postpone this work until autumn of the current year. They will be allowed again from October 1st.
Bird protection time: What is allowed and what is not?
During the bird protection period, you must not carry out any activities in your garden that could damage the population of native birds or small animals. You should always treat them with special respect.
Prohibited works in spring and summer
You should not shape your hedge if you notice that birds are nesting in it. Postpone the hedge trimming until the young birds have fledged. are forbidden aside from that
- rejuvenation cuts,
- Tree canopy cuts and
- the flaming of the previous year’s stock on field margins, roadsides, embankments and fallow land
Keep animal welfare in mind, as ground-nesting birds often breed in such pre-stocks and the sensitive ecosystem could be severely disturbed with such measures.
Permissible work in the garden: gentle care cuts
The regulations for bird protection in the Federal Nature Conservation Act are not always easy to understand. If in doubt, ask the responsible authority in your city or municipality what is permitted and what is not. The following works are generally permitted in private gardens:
- Felling of trees that are not explicitly protected all year round
- gentle shaping and care cuts on trees, hedges and shrubs
- Cutting off annual growth of trees and shrubs if animal welfare regulations are observed
If you want to cut down trees that are not protected, make sure beforehand that you are no inhabited nests or clumps in the crowns condition. If the tree is inhabited, wait until the young birds have fledged. Contact the competent authority in the event of storm damage, when road safety is at stake due to endangered trees. Inform them Lower Conservation Authority immediately in the case of broken crowns and fungal infestation of trees, so that you can be granted a special permit.
