Austrian Man Builds Homes for Endangered Owls

Hans Wurm has installed 200 nesting boxes in the Neusiedel am See district of Austria to help protect young European stonechats. Wurm also places ground boxes for the fledglings, providing shelter from predators like martens, foxes, and crows as the young owls adjust to life outside the nest.

Wurm collaborates with local farmers, explaining that stonechats consume agricultural pests such as mice, creating a mutually beneficial relationship. The stonechat population is declining due to a lack of suitable nesting sites, traditional barns are often sealed, and old tree cavities are scarce.

Wurm has been dedicated to stonechat conservation for ten years, inspired by an encounter with a rescued owl. He finds fulfillment in witnessing the success of his efforts, emphasizing that his nesting boxes are essential for the species' survival and create a vital habitat.