migratory feeding of common cranes is common in northern and eastern Germany. Also geese overwintering get fed regularly either with pellets or by land management projects working closely with local farmers. The Dummersee is a good example of this. Where much of crop agriculture comes is the form of monoculture in massive fields, once the crop is harvested, resown, the land becomes a virtual desert till the following spring, no food, no cover, etc. So in areas which lie in a Naturschutzgebiet, a conservation area, it is important to give migrants and overwintering species a fair chance. These oasies go some way to help. Obviously, when land usage is altered, including reverting to wetland, for example, everybody including wildlife can benefit if it is done correctly. Water levels are controlled to suit both wild life and farmer, wetlands are important breeding and overwintering grounds, grass meadows are kept short by cattle during the summer and geese in the winter providing fertilizer. Crop fields aren't being replanted till spring, so there is enough food left on them for overwintering birds and they get fertilized for free. Because of the huge numbers of cranes that migate through Mecklenberg-Vorpommern in NE Germany, the farmers and biological stations there feed them at suitable locations not too far from where they spend the night in shallow water. The birds appear to do well, the birding community are delighted and tourism increases, win/win.
