Part of nature reserve De Sprengenberg in Hellendoorn (Overijssel) has been closed to the public with immediate effect to accommodate early breeding birds, local broadcaster RTV Oost reports.

The early spring has caused the breeding season, which normally starts in late March, to begin two weeks earlier and visitors are not welcome in the reserve during that time.

‘Normally we use this period to trim trees and hedgerows but now we are hearing the woodlark in the fields. And the grouse are doing their mating dance as well, warden Ruben Vermeer from natural heritage organisation Natuurmonumenten told RTV Oost. ‘That is why we have stopped work two weeks early’.  

Some species not yet arrived from Africa could find their breeding places taken by the early birds, Vermeer said, while insects could be too late to for the nectar they depend on. ‘Everything in nature is so finely tuned. A change like this can really throw a spanner in the works,’ Vermeer said.

Once the birds have hatched their young the area will be opened to the public again but other parts may be restricted because some birds will continue to nest at the normal time, Natuurmonumenten said.