Europe's skylarks vanish—but Berlin's Tempelhofer Feld offers hope
The skylark, once a common sight across Europe, is now facing sharp declines. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the bird has been added to the Red List of threatened species after numbers dropped by around 75 percent since the 1980s. Yet, on Berlin’s Tempelhofer Feld, its song still fills the air—even amid crowds of visitors. The skylark’s survival depends on open fields, earning it the title of a ‘character bird’ of farmland and grassy plains. Its dawn choruses inspired terms like ‘lark types’ for early risers and ‘owl types’ for night owls. Poets and musicians have long celebrated its song, which was even introduced to Australia for its beauty.
In Berlin, Tempelhofer Feld remains a vital refuge. Around 25 percent of the city’s skylarks live on the former airport grounds. To protect their nests, certain areas are closed off during breeding season, and dog owners must keep pets on leads. Efforts to help the species extend beyond Berlin. The Rhineland and Westphalia Cultural Landscape Foundations are funding ‘Skylark Windows’, a project encouraging farmers to leave small patches of land untilled in grain fields. The bird’s importance was also recognised in 2019 when it was named ‘Bird of the Year’.
Despite conservation measures, the skylark’s future remains uncertain. Its decline reflects broader changes in farming and land use. For now, places like Tempelhofer Feld offer a rare chance to hear its song—a reminder of the bird’s enduring presence in European culture.
