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Natural experience in the tidelands The North Sea mud flats have a particular significance as a resting place for migratory birds. Here the birds store their reserves of fat, moult, and recover from the stress of flying the thousands of kilometers on the first stage of their journey. An attraction – also for birdwatchers. The swarm circles once more to lose in height, then the nun geese glide past us in sinking flight against the cold east wind. The light of the fall sun illuminates the white stomachs of the large birds, contrasting with black necks adjacent to white faces. The swarm is a good 200 birds strong. With excited barking cries the geese land on the meadow, where on the ground they appear surprisingly small. They join the other nun geese, which we have been watching for some time with our Televid spotting scopes. We’re standing on the observation tower on the road between St. Peter-Ording and the Eider Dam on the west coast of Schleswig-Holstein. Before us stretch the Kating mud flats and behind us lie the North Sea mud flats. Mud flats on both sides of the dam ? The apparent contradiction is quickly cleared up when one learns that the Kating mud flats – formed by the tides in earlier times – since about 30 years ago are mud flats in name only and now consist of grassland, swamps, fields, ditches, and even woods. 1,200 hectares (2,965 acres) were removed from the influence of the tides when the Eider Dam was built as a protection against storm floods. Thus the ecologically valuable mud flats were destroyed. However, on the other side of the dam equally valuable habitats were created – actually, many more than were planned. This was due to the fact that the ambitious goals for tourism of the land planners were never carried out for a number of reasons. So instead of having camping grounds, vacation villages, and trail riding, kibitzers, blacktailed godwits, gray geese, and many other swamp birds settled here. Soon after the troop of geese land, the commotion dies down. Families come together again and grass begins to be assiduously “mowed down”. Geese are almost entirely grass eaters, who in their winter quarters have nothing more to do than eat grass and digest. The nun geese already have a very long stretch behind them. Now in October up to 20,000 of the beautiful Nordic geese congregate here in the Kating mud flats and surrounding areas. However, with only a few exceptions, they don’t breed here, but rather in arctic Siberia. A long look around from a 13-meterhigh (42-foot-high) tower shows us many more birds. Wigeons graze like the geese on the meadows. Gulls are everywhere in the air. From the mud flats we hear the shrill whistling of the oystercatcher, and at the edge of the pool in front of us dunlins walk with mincing steps. In the meadows we discover curlews and a small troop of kibitzers, in addition to a number of ducks on the Kating tideway, meadow pipits, wagtails … The plethora of birds shows impressively the significance of this area for birds migrating on the eastern Atlantic migration path, which connects the breeding grounds in Greenland and Siberia with winter quarters all the way down to South Africa. The North Sea mud flats have a special significance as a place to rest and fill up. Here the birds store their reserves of fat, moult, and recover from the stress of flying the thousands of kilometers on the first stage of the journey. Not for all birds is the journey over when they reach the North Sea mud flats as it is for the nun geese. Many fly much further to the south. The proximity of the Kating mud flats to the coast, to the Eider river, and the North Sea marshes makes it attractive to migratory birds. At high tide, the birds search for food in the embankments of the Kating mud flats or wait for the next ebb tide. In addition to the open flats, further bird habitats also exist in the Kating mud flats. This is the reason why the Kating mud flats have become one of the “hot spots” of the bird watching scene. This area becomes a subject of conversation again and again due to the observation of exceptional rarities. Sometimes the birdwatchers stand like regular snakes to catch a glimpse of terek sandpipers, zitting cisticolas, white-winged sea swallows, dwarf flamingos, or white-tailed kibitzers. This little paradise for bird watchers, “birders,” ornithologists, and of course friends of nature in general, is looked after by the Katinger Watt NABU Nature Center, with headquarters in the Lina Haenle house on the old Eider Dam. Here Sibylle Stromberg, manager of this facility of the Nature Protection Alliance of Germany (NABU), and biologist Holger Bruns organize guided tours, seminars, excursions, exhibitions, and not least, oversee the care and management of 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) of protected areas. The Katinger Watt NABU Nature Center has been in existence since 1991 and by now attracts every year approximately 13,000 visitors, who linger here for a surprisingly long time. Some even stay for days. Next to the house, the nature information area stretches out for 200 hectares (494 acres) and includes an observation tower and two blinds (hides) built in the British style. From here even beginners in bird lore can make impressive observations and admire gray geese, redshanks, or kibitzers in very close proximity. In addition, excursions led by NABU teams visit the nature reserve areas of Green Island and Olversum Foreshore. For all such observations both beginners and occasional observers are well-outfitted with Leica binoculars or even a Televid spotting scope. The picture of the Kating mud flats would not be complete if we did not mention two events that have made waves throughout Germany. In May, the Nature Experience Days, including an exhibit of binoculars and spotting scopes, receive a great deal of attention. About 1,000 visitors rush to try out the newest high-quality optics and other bird watching gear and of course to watch every throng of birds during this peak migration time. A breath of “birdfair” wafts over the marsh, and the positive effect of the lectures, tours, and films, together with the familiar, relaxed atmosphere, for ecological education and communication between nature and bird lovers, cannot be too highly estimated. The “West Coast Bird Watch” takes place at the same time as the “European BirdWatch” during the first weekend of October – again during the best migration time. The Katinger Watt NABU Nature Center also contributes to this multi-regional event and thereby speaks to hundreds of bird watchers. Thomas Griesohn-Pflieger 8 / 9 Leica and Katinger Watt Leica Camera AG has for many years supported the important work of the Katinger Watt NABU Nature Center toward nature clarification and education and also helps with binoculars and spotting scopes. In this way visitors can enjoy nature with top-quality optics and discover many small details that would perhaps be missed with the naked eye or with lower-quality optics. So Leica makes a contribution to nature conservation and likewise to the enjoyment of nature. www.nabu-kattinger-watt.de
Leica Sport Optics supports the following projects and organizations : American Birding Association (ABA), USA www.americanbirding.org The ABA represents a whole range of birding interests, from identification and education to listing and conservation. ABA actively promotes the economic and environmental values of birding, and we encourage the conservation of birds and their habitats. New Jersey Audubon Society (NJAS), USA www.audubon.org The mission of the National Audubon Society is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds and other wildlife for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity. Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU) e.V., Germany www.nabu.de Among other things the NABU exerts itself for the conversation, creation and improvement of the life bases of the flora and fauna. Besides, the protection of birds finds special consideration. National Park Schleswig-Holstein’s Wadden Sea, Germany www.wattenmeer-nationalpark.de The national park’s objective is to protect the wadden sea ecosystem’s diversity by ensuring its undisturbed development. British Butterfly Conservation, UK www.butterfly-conservation.org The British Butterfly Conservation Organization has prepared conservation programs for more than 60 threatened species of butterfly and moth. Birdlife International, UK www.birdlife.org Birdlife International is involved in the protection of sea birds (actually mainly albatrosses and petrels). Oriental Bird Club (OBC), UK www.orientalbirdclub.org OBC research projects for bird conservation in Asia. melanoleucus Geranoaetus / Eagle In the actual issue of the magazine “Focus on Wildlife” you can read thrilling stories Buzzard which experienced and renowned birdwatchers from all over the world made with their Leica Sport Optics products. You will find it at your Leica dealer or in the internet at www.leica-camera.com. Black-chested
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