The Wadden Sea is once again becoming a hub for bird migration. Millions of migratory birds are on their way south these weeks and are taking a break in the Wadden Sea on their way to their winter quarters. This natural spectacle attracts many people every year who want to watch the birds and learn more about bird migration.
Why are there so many birds gathering on the mudflats now?
The mass bird migration on the East Atlantic Flyway takes place twice a year. The Wadden Sea looks inconspicuous, but offers an enormous wealth of food and undisturbed rest areas. A good ten million birds use the unique natural area on the North Sea coast to fortify themselves for their journey. According to the nature conservation organization WWF, the Wadden Sea is also unique in the world because of this importance for birds and is protected as a national park and world natural heritage site.
Now in autumn, when it becomes too cold and food poor in their breeding and summer areas in northern Europe, the birds sometimes fly thousands of kilometers to their wintering areas in southern Europe or Africa, as the national park administration announced. In spring they begin the journey in the opposite direction.
What birds can you see?
Various wading birds, geese, ducks, seagulls and terns can be observed. According to WWF, there are so many individuals from at least 52 populations of 41 species of these birds that the Wadden Sea is of international importance for these species. Almost all of the individuals in existence come from some species or populations. Among others, the dark-bellied brent goose, common knot, lapwing plover, bar-tailed godwit and dunlin are species that rely heavily on the Wadden Sea.
Are there excursions and other bird migration events?
Yes. The Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park invites you to the “West Coast Vogelkiek” from September 26th to October 4th. At numerous events and excursions along the entire west coast, experts provide insights into the lives of birds and their journey south. From Sylt, Amrum, Föhr and Hallig Hooge via Dagebüll, the Beltringharder Koog and Nordstrand to the Katinger Watt and the Dithmarscher Speicherkoog - from north to south there are suitable tours with national park rangers and other experts for both newcomers and professionals.
According to the organizers, the highlights are the day tours to Amrum (September 27th), Sylt (October 3rd) and Hallig Hooge (October 4th). They each start on the mainland and are led by national park ranger Martin Kühn - with the support of colleagues on the islands.
The nature conservation associations in the Wadden Sea also offer numerous events. They can be found in the event calendars of the Wadden Sea Conservation Station, the Jordsand Association and Nabu
Are there also events for people with little time?
There are those too. According to the National Park Administration, locals who have to work during the day should also be able to enjoy an expert excursion. For them, short after-work tours are particularly suitable for “incorporating impressive bird watching into the hustle and bustle of everyday life,” it is said. Locals can also enjoy the spectacle during the “Evening Swarming on the Dike” (September 30th in Beltringharder Koog) or the evening bike ride to the sleeping and resting place of migratory birds (October 2nd on Föhr). The complete program of the “West Coast Vogelkiek” can be found online at www.nationalpark-wattenmeer.de/wkvk.
What if I would rather watch birds alone?
Of course that works too. According to the national park administration, if you want to see migrating birds, you have to get up early: “The migration is usually most intense in the early morning.” The train slows down a bit during the day, only to pick up again in the evening. Then, for example, many songbirds set off again.
However, the resting birds can be observed all day long. This applies in particular to wading birds, the national park administration said. If you want to see these birds, you should keep an eye on the tides. Because at low tide they spread across the mudflats and, according to the information, can only be seen from a great distance. When there is high water, however, they gather in the salt marshes or on beaches.
Which places do experts recommend?
National park ranger Kühn recommends Fuhlehörn on Nordstrand as an individual “bird spot”. Here you can watch the arrival of the waders at the flood resting place in a fantastic way when the water is rising. «Simply sit on the dike with the tide plan, a little time, and a pair of binoculars - and you're right in the middle of it!»
For the ornithologist David Fleet, the Brösumer Spätinge in St. Peter-Ording are one of his favorite places on the coast. There you can observe many species up close while resting. And for the environmental intern on the Hamburger Hallig, Katharinaschulenburg, the diverse habitats there - from the salt marshes to the mud flats at low tide to the view of the open North Sea at high tide - offer the opportunity to see a wide variety of bird species.
