Areas where there was previously a rich birdlife are being emptied of birds at an alarming rate, the association means.
Some water areas have completely lost their value for birds due to disturbances from among other things kitesurfers. In Limfjorden, the occurrence of moulting seabirds has almost completely disappeared, says biologist Knud Flensted from the Danish ornithological association to Ritzau.
He means that the problem is particularly large in the summer, when several bird species moult and are therefore extra shy. When the birds encounter a kitesurfer, they become uncertain whether it is a threat to them and start swimming or flying away. In some cases, they can leave their breeding grounds and young behind.
A working group will now review the rules for maritime traffic in several of the important bird areas in Denmark.
