A creative way to manage the amount of the caught Chinese mitten crabs has taken flight in Kalken. By turning the Chinese mitten crab control into a feeding opportunity, a new initiative invites birds to enjoy a 'seafood buffet'.
In the Netherlands pilot traps for crayfish were outfitted with a feeding platform that collects the caught crayfish in an open basin where birds can come to feed on them.
The same idea was implemented on the Chinese mitten crab trap on the river Driesesloot at Kalken in cooperation with the Agency for Nature and Forestry (ANB). Instead of returning the caught crabs to the river of origin, the river Scheldt, they are now presented in an open basin, accessible to gulls, herons, cormorants and other seafood loving birds.
A trail camera will keep us informed of the visiting species.
