Nesting boxes for the wryneck: A glimmer of hope for Schwabach!

Nesting boxes for the wryneck: A glimmer of hope for Schwabach!

In Schwabach, the signs point to nature conservation: On January 20, 2026, new nesting boxes for the wryneck were installed to enable this endangered bird species to return. The wryneck, which belongs to the woodpecker family, is threatened with extinction in Bavaria. The commitment of the local actors who create these small but significant living spaces is all the more gratifying.

Nesting boxes for the wryneck were hung in the region around ten years ago, but some of them were damaged over time. The new boxes are the result of a cooperation between the government of Middle Franconia and the vocational school 11 in Nuremberg. Here, budding carpenters have demonstrated a good hand and have been making nesting boxes for various animal species, including bats and hornets, for more than a decade. These projects combine practical crafts with environmental education and are a benefit for the students and local biodiversity.

The wryneck and its habitats

The wryneck (Jynx torquilla) is in fact a thrush-sized bird that cannot create its own nesting holes and is dependent on existing breeding sites. Nesting boxes offer him protection from nest robbers such as raccoons and are essential for his survival. It looks for its food, mainly from ant larvae and pupae, by hopping on the ground and prefers open, structured landscapes such as clearings and orchards. In Germany, the loss of such habitats has led to the endangerment of this species.

While the wryneck is classified as 'critically endangered' in the Red List, a project in the Werra-Meißner district that started in 2021 shows how effective nature conservation works. There, 48 nest boxes were set up in different areas, which are checked three times during the breeding season. Fortunately, four successful breedings have already been recorded in these boxes, which represents a positive turnaround for this endangered species. The measures also include ensuring that other endangered bird species such as the redstart and pied flycatcher benefit from the boxes.

Collaboration and commitment

In close cooperation with the biodiversity officers and the State Association for Bird Protection in Bavaria, existing boxes in Schwabach are also being replaced and new ones are being hung up. The nesting boxes are planned and built by the students throughout the school year and handed over at the end of the year. This not only imparts practical knowledge, but also creates an awareness of the needs of nature.

The commitment to the Wendeneck is an example of how innovative action and responsible environmental management can go hand in hand. In times when many species are endangered, supporting such projects is more important than ever. The wryneck and its habitats invite you to actively fight against the extinction of species and to sensitize our youngest children to nature conservation.

For more information about the protection projects of other species and biodiversity in Germany, initiatives such as those of the WWF explain how important it is to protect our nature sustainably. Together we can help ensure that the wryneck and other rare birds find a home again.

Visit the detailed reports on the projects Schwabach.de, Frau Holle Nature Park and WWF.