The sandpiper is the bird of the year 2027 in Austria. The group BirdLife chooses him. They want to show a big danger. He is a ground breeder. He builds his nest on the ground.
The small bird lives at wild rivers. He needs gravel and sand for his eggs. These places disappear now. People change the rivers.
In Vienna and in Burgenland the bird is gone. In all of Austria live only a few pairs. There are about 210 to 270 pairs. The animal is in danger.
People disturb the bird too. Visitors and dogs run over the gravel. They do not see the eggs. They break the eggs. This happens from April to July.
BirdLife wants more safe zones. Rivers must be natural again. This means renaturation. Other animals help too. The bird eats insects.
