On Sunday, March 30, we invite you to join us on a search for the most emblematic bird of the Minett UNESCO Biosphere. We are going to track the woodlark.
The woodlark is a small migratory bird that returns from southern Europe after winter. In spring and summer, this ground-nesting bird lives in the semi-open grasslands of former open-pit mining areas, where it also breeds.
Concrete conservation measures in the core zones of the Minett Biosphere have helped to stabilize the population of this rare bird, ensuring its future in Luxembourg.
The guide for the search for the woodlark is Jan Herr. He is a biologist at the Administration de la nature et des forêts (ANF) and is responsible for the management of nature reserves and Natura 2000 zones in the Minett region. Ahead of the workshop on March 30, we asked Jan three questions:
3 questions to the biologist Jan Herr
Minett UNESCO Biosphere: What makes the Minett open-cast mining area so important for biodiversity?
Jan Herr: The open-cast mining areas are large, interconnected nature reserves with specific conditions. They are nutrient-poor, relatively warm and rocky, which makes them attractive for unique biodiversity.
MUB: What is the nature conservation administration doing specifically to protect the woodlark?
J.H.: The protection of the woodlark in the mining areas mainly involves the restoration and maintenance of its habitat. In addition, visitor management is implemented in these areas to minimise disturbance to the bird.
MUB: What can participants expect to see when they look for the woodlark?
J.H.: During the workshop I hope to show the participants the woodlark, let them hear its song and give them a lot of information about its habitat and the conservation efforts being made to ensure its survival.
Join us in the search for the woodlark
Participation in this workshop, offered as part of the Minett Natur an Ëmwelt LéierLab (MiNELL) program, is free of charge. Registration is required:
For further information about the woodlark, we recommend this documentary that shows how this small bird lives in the nature conservation zones of our biosphere reserve: