Kitesurfing and Birds – important facts
During the last three years I received from kitesport community all over the world complains about environmental-fundamentalists who try to prohibit kitesurfing because of so called environmental reasons. I discovered that most of the reasons given by the supporters of such kitesurfing-prohibitions are somehow connected to birds. Very often it is argued that kitesport on water is a serious threat for birds. I collected the most popular statements of the environmental lobbyists and discussed them with scientists and experts from different European countries. The result of this research is the attached document (flyer) which shell help to debilitate the false assertion of the environmental lobbyists.
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1. Perception of birds
Claim: Birds perceive kites as predators and are driven away by them.
Facts: Birds perceive the world differently than human beings. They also see light in the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum. This for example enables them to discern patterns in the plumage of all different kinds of birds. It helps them to distinguish between friend and foe. Neither kites of kite surfers nor black stickers in the form of a birds’ silhouette, which can be found on many windows, have such patterns. Therefore, birds do not perceive kites or bird stickers as predators or enemies.
2. Avian behaviour during onshore winds
Claim: Kite surfers disturb birds when searching for food and during ingestion.
Facts: When onshore winds reach certain strengths, birds normally move to a windless area.
By doing this, rapid cooling of the Avian on the one hand is prevented and on the other hand food can be found more easily. Flying insects are too light and too small to fly in strong onshore winds while snails and clams in murky water, churned up by waves, make it difficult for the birds to find. The behaviour of kite surfers is the complete opposite of birds as they practise their sports almost exclusively in offshore winds on the coasts of the North and East See.
3. How much coastline is available for kitesurfers?
Claim: Kite surfers ride on every inch of all waters. There are no protected retreats left for birds.
Facts: More than 70% of the German coastline is unsuitable for kite surfing. In most cases these areas are not accessible, they are surrounded by agricultural land or run along cliffs and woods. Less than 5% of the whole German North and East Sea coast offers good preconditions for kite surfers who are in search of good infrastructural facilities.
4. Can birds be disturbed inland?
Claim: Kites fly over the territory and disturb the breeding area.
Facts: Most of the birds’ breeding areas are inland or a few 100 meters from the coast. In order to disturb the breeding birds the lines to which kites are connected need to be between 100 and 1.000 meters long.
However, this length is not used for kite surfing. Flying over the breeding area is nearly impossible as the lines are only between 15 meters and 25 meters long.
5. Why does bird life change?
Claim: Kite surfers are a major reason for the change of birdlife and migration of indigenous species.
Facts: The most important reason for the change of birdlife is the climate change. Linked to this are the migration of northern bird species and influx of southern bird species. Therefore, kite surfing is not the reason for migration of indigenous bird species but the change in climate. This is a phenomenon, which also affects areas where kite surfing is impossible.
6. How fast and noisy are kites?
Claim: Birds cannot adjust to kites as these fly too fast. Moreover, they scare birds off when they strike the water.
Facts: Every person walking on the beach knows from his own observation that most kite surfers leisurely make their way through the air. While doing so, the gliders can be seen gliding peacefully and quietly up in the sky. The average speed of kite sport is below 40km/h. Primarily beginners in training areas cause the loud bang of plummeting kites. These, however, are in touristic areas next to bathing zones and not in conservation areas.
Yes to nature conservation and No to a general ban of kite surfing
www.global-kitesports.org
