Listen to the Heidelgerche, a bird with a Jody diploma, at these locations:

In the picturesque Lüneburger Heide region, located south of Hamburg, a significant conservation effort is underway. The district administration, in collaboration with the Hollenstedt Forestry Association and the Hollenstedt Forest Cooperative, is implementing extensive forest management measures aimed at protecting species and biotopes.

The primary objective of these measures is to provide a permanent home for the strictly protected Heide Skylark and other rare species, including nightjars, lizards, and various insect species. The Heide Skylark, a characteristic bird of semi-open landscapes, is considered endangered due to the loss of many suitable habitats over the past decades.

Dario Mauermann, from the environmental department of the district administration, explains that the measures include thinning out the forest and creating semi-open forest structures. This work aims to strengthen the ecological connection of moor, heath, and forest in the Lüneburger Heide, creating a gentle transition between open moor, green land areas, and denser forests at the edges of the protected area.

Ecologically valuable trees with broad crowns and gnarled growth, as well as broken branches, are being retained for breeding and retreat areas for numerous species. On the other hand, non-native trees such as pines and individual spruces are being removed to allow more light to reach the forest floor, benefiting the Heide Skylark's habitat promotion.

The conservation efforts are being carried out on a three-hectare area in the district of Harburg, with the nature reserve Springmoor, near Hollenstedt, being a key focus. The Heide Skylark's song, a soft, yodel-like sound, is considered an acoustic sign of intact heath landscapes. Some may remember the Loriot sketch associated with the Heide Skylark's typical "didluü" sound.

Evelyn Hamann, who earned a yodel diploma after two years at a yodeling school, might find the Heide Skylark's song particularly fascinating. The Heide Skylark is primarily heard near woods and moors in the south of Hamburg, making the Lüneburger Heide region an ideal habitat for this rare and evocative bird.

These conservation measures are expected to significantly improve the prospects for the Heide Skylark and other rare species in the Lüneburger Heide, ensuring that their distinctive songs continue to echo through the heath landscapes for years to come.

Listen to the Heidelgerche, a bird with a Jody diploma, at these locations: