New citizens of the towns

After the deconsolidation of the towns the old defences often were modified into green belts. This way more species have found new living space near the people. These species didn't settle only in parks but also in close-built streets with small frontgardens and only a few trees.

Originally the Blackbird (as the darkest thrush) lived at the darkest places of damp woods rich in undergrowth. It is the most adaptable species of thrushes. The urbanizing of the blackbird started from West- and Central Europe in the 18 th century. In 1795 the first birds were to be seen in Leipzig. The blackbird was to be found in large numbers of towns mainly in Southern Germany around 1860 already. In Mecklenburg, however, it was said to be a shy forest bird even in 1895. Nowadays the settlement density is much higher in the towns than in the forests because of the favourable micro-climate, because of the large food supply all the year round and because of the artificial light.

The Collared dove immigrated in Europe from Asia Minor and the Balkans in the middle of this century. In 1947 this species was to be seen in Thuringia for the first time. In 1958 it bred in Erfurt first. Nowadays the collared dove is wide spread and breeds even at mainstreets and in pedestrian precincts. It breeds 2 - 3 times a year (at most 7 breedings) normally between March and October.

The Serin finch, coming from the Mediterranean region, has widened its distribution area to the north since the end of the 18th century. In Thuringia the first serin finch was to be seen near Königsee in 1825; the first breeding was near Gera in 1859. Today the serin finch is a distributed breeding bird in Thuringia, which is regularly to be seen in the towns.

The Woodpigeon, an original forest bird, more and more has settled in parks, gardens and on trees since the middle of the last century. Today it's often to be found in many towns. From time to time it even breeds at streetbuildings. Because of the favourable conditions of environment more and more woodpigeons (originally migratory birds) spend the winter in the city.