ADU travels, expeditions and events
Counting shorebirds along the Wadden Sea coast in northern Germany
3-5 September 2001
Following the Wader Study Group AGM in the Netherlands, I travelled to Husum, a coastal town in northern Germany, where I had arranged to spend time with Klaus Guenther counting shorebirds along the Wadden Sea coastline. Klaus is based at the WWF offices in Husum where he is employed to coordinate spring high-tide counts along this section of the Wadden Sea.
The Wadden Sea is situated along the North Sea coasts of the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark and is one of the world's most important wetlands for migratory waterbirds. With 4500 km2 of inter-tidal mud-flats, and adjacent salt-marsh, it supports some 10-12 million waterbirds which use the area as staging and moulting grounds during their annual life-cycles. It is regarded as the single most important staging and moulting area for waders on the East Atlantic Flyway and is of internationl importance as moulting and wintering grounds for several populations of waterfowl. It is estimated that 6-7 million waders and 2-2.5 million ducks and geese visit the Wadden Sea every year.
The Wadden Sea ...
These two photos show typical shoreline habitat and bird densities along the Wadden Sea coast. The photo on the left was taken to the south of Husum while the one on the right was taken to the north. Amongst the birds seen and counted in the photo on the right were ± 1000 European Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus, 3000+ Dunlins Calidris alpina, 2000+ Curlews Numenius arquata, ± 200 Blackheaded Gulls Larus ridibundus and ± 100 Herring Gulls Larus argentatus
Adjacent coastal pans also form part of the Wadden Sea counts, and at this pan we counted over 25 000 birds, including ± 15000 Dunlin, ± 3000 European Oystercatchers, ± 4000 Redshanks Tringa totanus, ± 1500 Spotted Redshanks Tringa erythropus, ± 500 Blackheaded Gulls, around 100 Common Gulls Larus canus, about 200 Bartailed Godwits Limosa lapponica and a few hundred Curlew Sandpipers Calidris ferruginea. The density of birds was unbelievable for a pan with a surface area of about 1km2 - the total count here, in some cases, equals the total waterbird count for the entire Northern Province in South Africa! Huge flocks of Dunlin would take flight when disturbed and the photo on the right tries to capture one of these 'clouds' of Dunlin whirling around the pan.
All of the counts were conducted using scopes and hand-held counters. Here Klaus (left) is busy recording the count in his notebook, while I continue counting ...
Shoreline counts were conducted from the massive dykes that bordered the coastline, although Klaus oftened used his vehicle's roof to get an elevated position in order to get better views at some of the inland wetlands. A polish lady Kinga Preisner (left) usually assists Klaus with the counts - Kinga is a volunteer worker and will spend a year based at the WWF Husum office to gain valubale experience in all aspects of the work carried out by the WWF staff.
Husum, the town ...
Husum is a lovely, quaint coastal town. These pictures show the harbour with the main entrance and exit drawbridge on the left and the docks on the right. Note the numerous wind turbines opposite the docks. Germany and the Netherlands make ample use of this form of electricty generation with literally thousands of these turbines located on wind farms throughout these countries.
The city center and main shopping area is mostly brick-paved and contains many souvenier shops. On the left is the the large market square with a fountain statue in the center. The statue is of a woman called Tine who played an important role in Husum's history. On the right is a shop, I amazingly found, called "Douglas" and just had to take a picture of it. It sold lavishly expensive perfume and other cosmetic products for women.
|
|
