Whoever is interested in the maintenance of the heath by the Heidschnucken may do so by taking out a sponsorship for a Heidschnucke with the Society for the protection of the Nature Park „Verein Naturschutzpark e.V.“
The Goatsucker
A hedonist,wrongly named.
The Goatsucker like to bask in the sun and enjoy regular dust baths. The Nighthawk, as he is commonly called, is an nocturnal bird and as such is seldom seen. His brown-black speckled plumage is an excellent camouflage. Characteristic are his short beak and wide throat.In Europe, heath and moors are his favorite living grounds.
The Goatsucker thanks the roman historian and writer Gaius Plinius Secundus,his name. He recorded it in his encyclopedia. Because the bird used to hang around the grazing animals at night, he was accused of drinking the goats milk. Whereby all he was really interested in were the insects on the animals udders. Probably the people that drank the goats milk themselves at night, when they were thirsty, gave the bird the blame, when it transpired that the goats had no more milk. The Goatsucker is on the Red List.
The Common Viper
A poisonous sun worshiper, who hibernates long in winter.
The optimal operating temperature for the common viper is 30 to 35 degrees Celsius. In the winter he likes to take things easy, and withdraws with members of his own species in a hideout. In march or April they awaken from their long sleep. The mating season begins.
The favorite habitat of the common viper are moors, heaths and moist lowlands The common viper is recognized by the dark zigzag on its back. They grow to an average length of 50 to 70 cm. As predator, the common viper attacks his prey e.g.frogs and lizards, by biting them and injecting them with poison. The victim dies of the poison and is then devoured , head first. The common viper is not a great threat to humans as it is very shy and flee fast. They only bite when threatened massively.
The common viper is endangered in Niedersachsen, but much more so in the rest of the republic.
The Greyhorned Heidschnucke
The very likeable one, who assiduously nurses the lands cape. The extraordinary frugality and robust health of the Heidschnucke are just two of its many positive traits that make them so likeable. On top of that they have the ability to use the Common Heath as food.
The Heidschnucke is probably descended from the Mufflons, which live on Sardinia and Corsica. The wool of the Greyhorned Heidschnucke is gray and coarse, and is shorn in May. The Schnuckes head, legs and tail are black. The lambs, born in Spring, are black at birth and change to gray in their second year. Both genders have horns. The north German heather and moors are the main breeding grounds for the Heidschnucke.
The syllable „Schnucke“ in the name Heidschnucke comes from schnucken or schnörkern,which more or less means noshing, or eating between meals. Another positive aspect of the Heidschnucke has to be mentioned here: its meat is delicious, similar to game.
Unfortunately the holding of the Heidschnucke is economically not viable these days, because its wool is not in great demand nowadays. Also the proceeds from the meat don't cover the costs of the production. The Schnucke herd holders are therefore dependent on government grants and contributions.
Whoever is interested in the maintenance of the heath by the Heidschnucken may do so by taking out a sponsorship for a Heidschnucke with the Society for the protection of the Nature Park „Verein Naturschutzpark e.V.“
The Black Grouse
The gallinaceous bird with high expectations
The Black Grouse has high demands on his habitat. It prefers undisturbed moors and heaths where Beeches, Pines and diverse undergrowth are to be found. The optimal environment is hard to find. Human interference and natural enemies, such as foxes and wild boars, make the birds life difficult. That's why the Black Grouse is so rare in Germany nowadays, and is on the Red List. Thanks to the efforts of the“Verein Naturschutzpark“ he is still to be found in the Lüneburger Heide, and somewhat further south on the army training grounds.
Where as the cock, with its splendid blue-black plummage, is visible, the hen is somewhat more safety conscious. Because she hatches on the ground she has to be better camouflaged, and so she carries a plain brown-black spotted dress. In the mating season the cocks spread out their wings, jump up and down in the air, have mock fights, and make bubbling gurgling noises.
