Characteristic signs of spring in the traditional mixed orchard include the noisy courtship rituals of countless songbirds and the blaze of the color of the fruit trees in full bloom. Whether starling, tit, or nuthatch, the overriding imperative is to search loudly for a partner, find a nest and produce offspring. Meanwhile, the cherry trees open the proceedings in the mixed orchard color stakes – they’re the first to blossom, followed soon after by Mirabelle plums, pears, and apples.
In the meadows, there are minor dramas taking place: ladybirds are a nightmare personified for every aphid colony. A single ladybird can consume up to 50 aphids a day. Happily for the aphids, they have powerful allies: ants.
In summer, the cherries ripen, offering the first major harvest of the season for humans and animals alike. And it seems almost as if there’s a culinary competition going on between birds, insects, and mammals...
Autumn is harvest time for humans and animals alike in the traditional mixed orchard. Apples and pears are a delicacy not only for humans – bees, hedgehogs and mice enjoy the tasty fare. Squirrels and nuthatches, on the other hand, prefer nuts and there are plenty of them to be found in the orcha...
Spring is a very busy time in the animal world. It’s time to stock up on energy and, above all, to produce offspring. The film portrays in fascinating images how animals and plants in Central Europe achieve this aim and focuses especially on early springtime.
Stocking up on energy, growing, and breeding the next generation – these are the major challenges that come with the spring. In fascinating images, the film portrays how animals and plants in Central Europe achieve these aims, with the focus on raising their young – whether bees, waterfowl or wil...
