Concern about late frosts

Early spring turns nature upside down

Apricot trees are already in bloom, but frosty nights could still be dangerous.

(Bild: APA/Herbert Pfarrhofer)

The winter months have been warmer than average, so things are already sprouting and blooming everywhere in Styria - actually too early. Nature is in a state of confusion and there is growing concern in agriculture about late frosts.

Crocuses have been blooming in Styria for weeks and storks and other migratory birds have also returned from their "winter break". The warmest autumn in recorded history was followed by an above-average winter and February also set new temperature records.

Shifts put a strain on wildlife
What does this do to nature? "There is a lot of confusion in some places. We have shifts of up to three weeks," says Johannes Gepp, President of the Styrian Nature Conservation Association. There is sometimes an "asynchronization" among animals, says Gepp, and explains by way of example: "If everything is already sprouting now, butterfly caterpillars are hatching and eating their fill, they will be gone again by the time some songbirds start to breed in May. The birds then lack the caterpillars as a food source."

Styrians are already enjoying the blooming heralds of spring.

(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz)

In some places, mosquitoes have already been spotted, confirms the nature expert: "Many mosquitoes have spent the winter in cellars, for example, and they are already coming out in isolated cases."

Storks returned earlier than ever before
However, there has already been a more pleasing reunion with Master Adebar: the first storks landed in Styria around three weeks ago. "This year they were here earlier than ever before. They don't usually arrive until mid-March," says Helmut Rosenthalerfrom the Styrian stork station in Tillmitsch. Incidentally, there is a webcam on their website (www.der-storchenvater.at) for the first time this year, which can be used to watch the storks live in southern Styria.

Styrian "stork father" Helmut Rosenthaler already has his hands full (archive photo).

(Bild: Krone)

Fruit trees have sprouted early
In agriculture, an early start to vegetation is always accompanied by worries about late frost. "We are very happy with the current warm and humid weather. But as we know from other years, this can change again very quickly," says Herbert Muster, head of the fruit-growing department at the Styrian Chamber of Agriculture.

A north-easterly current with cold, dry air would be fatal over the next few weeks. "The trees have sprouted very early, but have developed moderately so far. With the exception of apricots, there is currently no great danger for the crops."

For apricots, on the other hand, which according to Muster are on the verge of full bloom, "minus three degrees would be very problematic right now." But: "It has to be said that apricots were already a lottery in Styria decades ago." Accordingly, the economic significance of apricot cultivation in Styria is also manageable.