Bird populations in Denmark face severe decline, experts warn

The populations of lapwings, skylarks, and willow warblers in Denmark have significantly declined since the 1970s, prompting experts to issue a stark warning. Carsten Rabeck, a biodiversity professor at the University of Copenhagen, states that the country’s birdlife is in severe decline. Notably, the skylark, one of Denmark’s most recognizable species, has seen a 50% reduction in its population. Globally, around 25% of bird species have vanished in the past four decades, a trend that mirrors the situation in Denmark.

Niels Andersen, an ornithologist, has witnessed this decline firsthand. Over the last 15 years, he has recorded his bird counts in an area west of Svendborg, where he once counted 20 pairs of lapwings. Last year, there were none. In the 1970s, approximately 150,000 lapwing pairs were breeding in Denmark; today, this number has plummeted to about 20,000.

The crisis arises from increasingly efficient agricultural practices which have led to larger fields, leaving less space for wild birds. Knud Flensted, also an ornithologist, explains that many insects that serve as food for birds are found along the edges of fields, but with the removal of field margins, these vital habitats are disappearing. Draining agricultural lands has also resulted in fewer wet areas where wild birds can thrive.

Carsten Rabeck emphasizes the lack of protected natural areas, with only 2% of Denmark’s land designated for conservation. As farmers express concerns over reduced efficiency, they acknowledge the troubling decline of species like the lapwing. Some, like Henrik Bertelsen, a South Jutland farmer, recognize the need for change in farming practices to better support biodiversity without compromising productivity.