There are more poultry than wild birds in Switzerland
The biomass of chickens, turkeys and other poultry is fifteen times greater than that of wild birds in Switzerland, according to a study.
The share of wild birds is only 6% in Switzerland, according to the journal Ornithologischer Beobachter.
KEYSTONE / Salvatore Di Nolfi
The Swiss ornithological landscape mainly includes chickens, turkeys and other poultry. The biomass of the latter is fifteen times greater than that of wild birds, according to a study.
These values are low in international comparison: at the global level, the share of wild birds is around 30% of the total, the Swiss Society for Ornithology and Bird Protection (Ala) said in a statement on Wednesday.
Growing consumption of poultry
Over the past twenty years, the biomass of wild birds has certainly increased by 20%, but at the same time, that of poultry has increased by 40% to reach 16,000 tonnes, including 15,000 tonnes of hens. Breeding birds represent 1100 tons. Their increase is to be attributed to frequent species that benefit from more natural forest management, and not more sensitive or threatened species, underlines Ala.
Migratory birds that only pass through and waterbirds that winter in Switzerland have not been taken into account in these statistics. But even then, the proportion would remain below the world average.
The authors of the study point out that with the growing consumption of poultry, the phenomenon is set to increase. With the key to growth in fodder imports – currently only 17% of poultry feed is produced in Switzerland – and pollution by ammonia emissions due to manure.
Posted today at 1:08 p.m.
You found an error?Please let us know.