European stonechat in the meaddow

On my trip to eastern Austria and Lake Neusiedler I was able to take some pictures of the european stonechat in a meaddow. There are only a few meaddows left where they can live and breed and they are having a hard time since more and more meaddows that used to be wasteland are used for agricultural use and this is not good for a bird that lives in the meaddows like this one. In more natural meaddows that are not cut so often and especially not during the time when they breed they can find enough insects for food and can also protect and feed their offspring. But since most of the meaddows are cut twice a year to provide enough food for cattle and other livestock it is getting more and more difficult for the bird to find enough places to breed.

Female European Stonechat on a Thistle. Picture: Florian Glechner.

In addition to the few habitats it is also very vulnerable to nest robbery since it is a bird that breeds on the ground in the meaddow. There are only a few places in Austria where you can find this bird since the requirements for the habitat are hard to meet. Like other birds that live in meaddows it is an endangered species that needs to be protected. Since they come up on the stems of flowers and plants either during their hunting or to sing, it can be nice to take some closeup pictures of them.

Seldom Meaddow bird - The Stonechat. Picture: Florian Glechner.

Best position in the high grass. Picture: Florian Glechner.

I was happy that I finaly found this bird. Picture: Florian Glechner.

Picture: Florian Glechner.

Picture: Florian Glechner.

Picture: Florian Glechner.

Picture: Florian Glechner.