When it chirps, it's alive again! Field cricket study at Fahr Monastery

Field cricket study at Fahr Monastery: A special comeback

It was considered extinct in the project area – the field cricket. But around Fahr Monastery, it's chirping again! In a four-year field study, Naturnetz has sensitively attempted to reintroduce this shy species to the "Seeberg."

The mission: to relocate and observe cricket larvae and describe what is needed for the critters to form a new population.

The results: promising! From the initial trials with only 5 surviving male field crickets after the first winter of 2021/2022, the number of singing males grew to 43 in 2024 – with no new relocations last year.

Thanks to careful selection of the area, clever trapping techniques (cups + roof tiles!), and a lot of patience, it's clear that even a small number can produce great results. 2025 will show whether chirping will become the new normal.