Habitats for grouse

On 06.09.2024 it was time again: our second SiMo Gmewerch (= non-profit landscape conservation) project day took us to the beautiful Silbertal municipal area, where we dedicated ourselves to preserving the habitats of native grouse. Together with Christian Kuehs, the caretaker of the Natura 2000 protected area, we set off for the Verwall European nature reserve to spend a productive morning in nature.

Our goal? To create optimal conditions for the black grouse. On a partially mown area close to the tree line, we grabbed scissors, rakes and shovels to remove the remaining bushes and sticks by hand. This work may seem inconspicuous, but it has a huge impact on wildlife. The resulting open meadows and tree-free paths not only offer the black grouse plenty of food, but also protection from their enemies. They can hide well between the low mountain pines and still remain close to the open terrain.

We also paid particular attention to the rowan berries, which are an important source of food for the grouse. To protect the young shoots from browsing by wild animals, we wrapped sheep's wool around the young shoots - a natural and effective protection, as roe deer and stags avoid the smell of wool.

In addition to the physical work, we had the opportunity to deepen our botanical knowledge. We explored native plants such as blueberries, bilberries, cranberries, alpine roses, rowanberries and larches and also learned about the bird species that inhabit the Verwall region. It was particularly exciting to learn more about their calls and hiding places.

At the end of the day, we were not only a little smarter, but also satisfied with what we had achieved together. Accompanied by bright sunshine and a breathtaking view of the Verwall region, it was an educational and entertaining morning of nature conservation.

A big thank you to everyone who took part and lent a hand - together we are making a valuable contribution to the preservation of our natural environment!