Target species

Special species with high demands

Many of the species in the special protected area depend on special habitat types that have become rare throughout Germany. For example, old-growth deciduous forests provide habitats for many different woodpecker species such as the middle-spotted and black woodpecker. Colorful hay meadows or extensively managed grasslands further provide habitats for butterfly species like the violet copper or ground-nesting birds like as the whinchat. Seven species have been selected as flagship species for the promotion within this LIFE project.

Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)

Annex I of Birds Directive (EU code A236), Red list in NRW (breeding birds): *, Red list in Germany: *

Identification:	The black woodpecker is the largest native woodpecker species in Germany and is clearly recognizable by its black plumage. Males have a red crest that extends from the forehead to the nape of the neck. Females have only a distinctive red spot on the back of the head. The bill is white with a dark tip.
Food:	Ants. During the summer months, wood ants are preferred, as well as black garden ants on the ground. Black woodpeckers can also regularly be observed preying upon anthills. In winter, ants are preyed upon mainly on standing and lying dead wood and under bark of old trees.
Habitat:	The black woodpecker is a characteristic species of old beech forests. Here, it prefers to carve its breeding cavities in old beech trees, with a minimum age of about 120-130 years. For foraging, it often uses adjacent spruce forests rich in ants.
Special features:	The black woodpecker is considered a keystone species in old-growth forests with implications for numerous species that depend on tree cavities for breeding or protection. In the Siegerland region, for example, 17 different species have already been found to inhabit cavities once excavated by black woodpeckers. These included the boreal owl, tawny owl and stock dove. Wood nuthatches, squirrels, tits and smaller woodpecker species can also be regularly found in abandoned cavities of black woodpeckers.
Presence in the project area:	The species occurs in the old-growth forest stands of the project area. Relevant habitat types: 9110, 9130, 9180, 91E0*.
Measures:	Promotion of deciduous forest Long-term protection of old-growth forest stands Protection of breeding and nesting trees

Middle-spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocoptes medius)

Annex I of Birds Directive (EU-Code A328), Red list in NRW (breeding birds): *, Red list in Germany: V

Identification:	A little bit smaller than the great-spotted woodpecker, the middle-spotted woodpecker is especially conspicuous for its bright red head plate and bright red plumage below the tail. The rest of the plumage is black and white in color with a barred pattern on the sides and chest.
Food:	Wood-dwelling insects and their larvae, fruits and seeds. Food is sought throughout the year with the fine bill in cracks and crevices of trees with coarse bark.
Habitat:	The middle-spotted woodpecker is a characteristic species of old deciduous forests, preferably with a high proportion of coarse barked oak trees. Here the often called "primeval forest woodpecker" finds sufficient food as well as dead wood to excavate its cavities.
Special features:	The middle-spotted woodpecker is one of Germany's responsible species, with about 7% of the world population occurring here. Its occurrence in the project area with about 23 territories (2018) is one of the most important in the region of the Sauerland, Siegerland, Wittgenstein and Bergisches Land (Süderbergland).
Presence in the project area:	In the oak or oak-beech old-growth forests, where there is sufficient dead and old trees. Old and overgrown coppice forests with their high proportion of oaks are also playing an increasingly important role.
Measures:	Promotion of deciduous forest Long-term protection of old-growth forest stands Protection of nesting and breeding trees Long-term preservation of oak trees in the Siegerland region

Gray-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus)

Annex I of Birds Directive (EU code A234), Red list of NRW (breeding birds): 2, Red list of Germany: V

Identification:	The plumage of the grey-headed woodpecker is predominantly green in color, making it look confusingly like the slightly larger green woodpecker at first glance. The main distinguishing features of the gray woodpecker are the eponymous gray head with a narrow black stripe down the cheek. In addition, males bear a red forehead patch, which is completely absent in females.
Food:	Ants. Occasionally other insects as well as seeds and fruit. Food is mainly sought on the ground.
Habitat:	The grey-headed woodpecker is a characteristic species of structurally rich old deciduous and mixed forests, especially with old beech and oak trees. It prefers to build its cavities in damaged or dead wood. For foraging, the grey-headed woodpecker needs structurally rich forest edges and open areas. Relevant habitat types: 6230, 6410, 6510, 6520, 9110, 9130, 9180, 91E0*
Special features:	The grey-headed woodpecker has its northwestern limit of distribution in the federal state of North-Rhine Westphalia and occurs mainly in the German central mountains. Here, the core distribution is located in the densely wooded Sauerland and Siegerland.
Presence in the project area:	In old-growth beech and deciduous forests as well as in alluvial forests, with sufficient old and dead wood.
Measures:	Promotion of deciduous forest Long-term safeguarding of old-growth forests Protection of nesting and breeding trees Promotion of insect-rich grassland

Red Kite (Milvus milvus)

Annex I of Birds Directive (EU code A074), Red list NRW (breeding birds): *S, Red list of Germany: V

Identification:	The plumage of the Red Kite is predominantly rusty brown in color, the head is light gray. In flight, black and white feathers become visible on the wings. A characteristic feature of this species is the deeply forked tail, which distinguishes it from other raptor species in flight.
Food:	Small mammals, such as voles, birds as well as carrion. Food is preyed upon on the ground, making the red kite dependent on low vegetation height.
Habitat:	A structurally-rich cultural landscape with an alternation of sparse forests, arable land and grassland. The nest is preferably built in old beech or oak trees. Red Kites spend the winter in southern Europe, mostly in Spain, Portugal or southern France. In recent years, however, red kites can also be observed in Germany during the winter months, due to higher temperatures and less days of snow-covered fields. Relevant habitat types: 6230, 6410, 6510, 6520, 9110, 9130, 9180, 91E0*.
Special features:	The Red Kite is a species unique to Europe. About 65% of the world's total population occurs in Germany. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the distribution focus is in the mountainous regions of the Sauerland and Siegerland, which gives us a special responsibility for the protection of this species.
Presence in the project area:	The Red Kite is widespread in our project area.
Measures:	Promotion of deciduous forest Promotion of a structurally-rich cultural and natural landscape mosaic Promotion of insect-rich grassland

Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra)

Annex of Birds-Directive: Art. 4 (2), (EU-Code A275), Red list NRW (breeding birds): 1S, Red list of Germany: 3

Identification:	The males' plumage is blackish brown above with light brown feather fringes. The breast is brownish-red. The dark brown facial mask with the light over-eye stripe is conspicuous, as is the light throat. Females are colored in plain shades of brown compared to males.
Food:	Insects, spiders, snails and worms.
Habitat:	The Whinchat needs open and extensively managed wet and marshy meadows with a distinct herb layer and individual higher structures, such as fence posts or taller growing shrubs. These structures are used as singing and perching places. They spend the winter months south of the Sahara and return to Germany after a long-distance flight in April. Relevant habitat types: 6230*, 6520, 6510, 6410, 6430.
Special features:	With a share of 40% of the North-Rhine Westphalian Whinchat population, the project area is the largest breeding population of the federal state. A total of 70-80 territories are counted here annually. Thus, the occurrence is also the largest in the entire district of Siegen-Wittgenstein.
Presence in the project area:	In the project area, the Whinchat occurs mainly in the extensively managed grasslands of the “Buchheller-Quellgebiet” (near Burbach-Lippe) and in the “Hickengrund-Wetterbachtal” (Burbach-Holzhausen). There, they find a mosaic of species-rich lowland hay meadows with Yellow Oat grass and adjacent tall herbaceous vegetation and strips of old grass.
Measures:	Adjustment of grassland management with regard to the time of mowing Creation of further extensive grassland (e.g., by converting spruce forest) Establishment of vertical structures as singing and perching places Promotion of fallow stages

Violet Copper (Lycaena helle)

Appendix II & IV of Habitats Directive (EU code 1067), Red list of NRW: 1S, Red list of Germany: 2

Flight time:	May- July
Identification:	The upper side of the wings is orange/brown in color, with the males showing an intense purple tinge depending on the incidence of light, which is only slightly pronounced in the females. The predominantly brown hind wings are terminated by an orange band. The underside of the wings is colored in light orange tones with black dots and crescents.
Food:	The butterflies are not very demanding and fly to numerous habitat-typical flowering plants. In contrast to that, the caterpillars are choosier, they only feed on Bistort (Bistorta officinalis).
Habitat:	Extensively managed grassland habitats with marginal woody structures and stands of Bistort, often close to Black Alder stands. Relevant habitat types: 6410, 6430, 91E0.
Special features:	The eponymous blue-violet sheen is not a color but is produced by refraction of light on the scales. The Violet Copper is furthermore a relict species of the ice age. It therefore prefers cool habitats and is mostly threatened by climate change and land use intensification.
Presence in the project area:	Until a few years ago, the small butterfly could be observed in four different areas. Today, the occurrences are limited to the extensively managed moist grasslands in the special areas of conservation "Bergwiesen Lippe mit Buchheller- und Mischebachtal" and "Buchheller-Quellgebiet". The still existing occurrences are of great importance for the connectivity of the a few further populations of the Westerwald and represent the last occurrences in the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein.
Measures:	Optimization of habitats and increasing of connectivity of grassland (e.g., by conversion of spruce tree plantations) Adaptation of grassland management with regard to the time of use. If possible, mowing or grazing should not take place at the time of egg laying or at the beginning of the caterpillar stage in late summer/early autumn Preservation of old grass strips and fallow structures

Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia)

Appendix II of the Habitats Directive (EU code: 1065), Red list of NRW: 1S, Red list of Germany: 2

Flight time:	May - July
Identification:	The upper side of the wings is decorated in a colorful checkerboard pattern of orange, yellow and black-brown fields. The hindwings bear an orange-red band with a row of dark spots. The underside of the wings is less conspicuous in light reddish brown. Again, there is a dark row of dots on the hindwings.
Food:	The butterflies prefer to fly to yellow flowers, including Buttercups and Arnica. The caterpillars, on the other hand, depend exclusively on the occurrence of Devil's-bit (Succisa pratensis) in our region.
Habitat:	Lean and extensively managed moist meadows, especially Molinia and Nardus grasslands with sufficient occurrences of Devil's-bit and adjacent groups of woody plants. Relevant habitat types: 6230*, 6410.
Special features:	After hatching, the caterpillars spin a common silk web, which gives them better protection from predators and the weather. Hibernation takes place in a web close to the ground. The caterpillars do not pupate until spring.
Presence in the project area:	The Marsh Fritillary has been considered extinct in 2015 in the project area and thus in the entire district of Siegen-Wittgenstein. In the neighboring Westerwald, there are still two populations of this small butterfly.
Measures:	Creation of further extensive grassland (e.g., conversion of spruce forest) Adaptation of grassland management with regard to the time of use Promotion and planting of the caterpillar food plant, the devil's-bit Captive breeding and re-introduction of the Marsh Fritillary in areas of former occurrence