Practical workshop "Cairns with quality of life"
While we are enjoying the summer in a sunny corner of the garden, we sometimes have company without us noticing: a sand lizard is sunbathing extensively on a warm, large root. In the past, the diurnal animals were often found at the edges of hedges and along paths. Today they are one of the endangered species and they have completely disappeared from some areas because their habitats are becoming increasingly scarce.
Lizards – Swift garden visitors and pest eaters
While we are enjoying the summer in a sunny corner of the garden, we sometimes have company without us noticing: a sand lizard is sunbathing extensively on a warm, large root. In the past, the diurnal animals were often found at the edges of hedges and along paths. Today they are one of the endangered species and they have completely disappeared from some areas because their habitats are becoming increasingly scarce. Along with the mountain lizard, the sand lizard is one of the most common and widespread species of lizard in Austria.
Lizards feed mainly on insects, spiders, beetles, but also snails and worms. Larks and rose chafers are among their favorite foods. During their hibernation from September to mid/end of March they draw on their reserves. After the mating season in late April and late May, the females lay 4-15 eggs between June and July, from which the young hatch after 6-10 weeks - most of them hatch in August.
Create habitats for beneficial insects!
Near-natural places offer lizards a new habitat. According to their sun-loving way of life, sunny forest edges, hedges, piles of brushwood, sand pits, nutrient-poor grassland and dry stone walls are particularly important for their preservation and development. Lizards love cairns in which they can hide. Exactly such structures offer the animals different habitats, food and protection from enemies, such as cats. At the same time, these places are also important habitats for other insects and small animals and the best conditions for many beneficial insects. Birds nest in the hedges, which have an enormous need for food, especially during the rearing period, and devour a large number of harmful insects. Hedgehogs also come here and can spend the winter in piles of brushwood and leaves. Species-rich flowering areas on the lean areas not only attract bees, but also other useful insects.
Here go to the building instructions for a reptile biotope.
WOERLE farmers look at the diversity of species
Lizards fulfill just as important tasks for a healthy nature as all other living beings. The WOERLE dairy farmers compare this to a serviced tractor: "A functioning tractor needs the wheels, the hydraulics, the PTO shaft and of course the engine. The entire transmission is held together by hundreds of screws. If only one screw is missing, the tractor can still drive and work without any problems. It's already scratched by the second or third screw. The more screws are missing, the less it will be ready to drive. That's why we look at our tractors and tighten the loose bolts and replace any that are missing. And that's how it works for us with nature - the lizard is like a "screw" in the gears of a functioning ecosystem."
WOERLE farmers as active living space designers
In July 2020, our farmers, as part of the project "We build for diversity" funded by the federal government, the federal states and the EU, in which WOERLE is a project partner, with us and that ÖKL as project sponsor, with the habitat structures of sand lizards, grass snakes and co. Together, a beautiful, unique reptile hotel was created at the Eder family's farm! Many thanks to our speaker Olivia Ortner, zoologist and reptile expert.
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Did you know…
Lizards have natural enemies such as birds of prey, martens and cats. When threatened, the lizard can drop its tail. After being dropped, it continues to move for a few minutes to distract the "enemy" while the rest of the lizard can flee. The tail usually grows back in a shortened form. A tail that has already been regenerated can also be discarded again.
