The Sparrowhawk - Bird of the Year 2015. "You recognize it by the fact that you don't see it" - this famous description of the sparrowhawk by the zoologist Oskar Heinroth from the 20th century still holds true today. It refers to the behavior of this shy bird, which has its natural habitat in the forest and uses the element of surprise when hunting. However, there have been changes in the world of sparrowhawks since then: due to migrations into various large cities, this raptor is increasingly "coming out of hiding" - with a bit of luck, you might even encounter it in urban green spaces and parks. The sparrowhawk is still exposed to unjustified and illegal persecution by humans. To raise awareness of this issue and to call for the protection of this raptor, the NABU (Nature Conservation Association) and the Bavarian State Association for Bird Protection have taken action.