On Tuesday 17 November at 5.00 pm, anyone interested is invited to a talk on the topic ‘The goosander and its offspring – is the species becoming a “problem bird”?’ at the Chemnitz Nature Conservation Centre, Adelsbergstraße 192. Admission is free.
The goosander is a fascinating waterbird that is becoming increasingly widespread in Saxony too. However, its growing population is not welcomed everywhere. In particular, its voracious appetite for fish is increasingly leading to disputes with angling associations and the fishing industry. Is the goosander really becoming a ‘problem bird’?
In his talk, Dieter Kronbach from the Chemnitz Volunteer Nature Conservation Service will take participants on a journey into the fascinating world of the mergansers. He will first introduce the three species of mergansers found in Europe, before focusing on the goosander, which has also become established as a breeding bird in Saxony. He explains the species’ appearance and way of life, its distribution and spread across Germany and Saxony, as well as the associated challenges. What are the implications of the growing population? What role does the goosander’s diet play, which consists of around 85 per cent fish? And how can the conservation of this fascinating bird species be reconciled with the interests of fisheries and angling? Is the goosander a boon for nature, or is it increasingly becoming a problem?
To conclude, the speaker will show impressive video clips documenting the breeding behaviour of a female goosander in a nest box at Penig Church. From egg-laying to the spectacular moment when the young birds take their first leap from the nest box, participants can experience the development of the little goosanders up close.
English
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