Belgium, a country with rich biocultural diversity, offers a fascinating blend of landscapes and habitats. Agriculture plays a significant role, shaping the country's cultural landscape with wheat fields, orchards, and vegetable cultivation areas. Additionally, heathland farming and the conservation of nature reserves are crucial for the protection and preservation of native flora and fauna, especially in regions like the High Fens and the Kempen. Maritime activities have historically influenced Belgium and continue to provide an important connection to the world and marine ecosystems. The Belgian North Sea coast and adjacent wetlands are important habitats for various bird species and other coastal wildlife. The diversity of landscapes, from flat polders to the gentle hills of the Ardennes, provides habitat for a wide range of plant and animal species. Despite its small size, Belgium is a living example of the importance of biocultural diversity and the interaction between humans and nature.
The original distribution of this pigeon species reached from Turkey to Japan. It has been spreading very quickly in Europe since the 1930s. The European collared dove appeared in Germany in 1945, in Belgium in 1950 and in Great Britain in 1953. In 1974, fewer than 50 doves escaped captivity in the Bahamas. They spread to Florida and now they are found in almost every state in the U.S. as well as in Mexico.
European collared doves are not migratory, but strongly dispersive. They breed close to human habitation. Almost every nest is within 1 km of inhabited buildings. They avoid forest areas, but need trees to breed (preferably conifers).
Jackdaws are very talkative birds and have - probably due to their high level of sociality - a very broad repertoire of sounds. Short, monosyllabic and metallic-clicking calls that sound higher than the vocalizations of larger ravens or crows are characteristic. The jackdaw has many situation-specific calls, most of which are choppy and high-pitched. But they also let out drawn-out, croaking vocalizations.
Although jackdaws can be found throughout the whole year, most populations migrate from the breeding areas in winter. The number of migratory birds depends on the climatic conditions. Around 70% of Polish jackdaws, but only 23% of Belgian jackdaws, leave the breeding areas in winter.
