- Engaging in birdwatching as a solitary observer in the Wadden Sea, surrounded by avian species
During the bustling tourist season, several North and Baltic Sea islands are closed off with warning signs stating "Keep Out". These restricted areas, often labeled as "bird islands" and halligs, are inhabited and managed solely by bird wardens during the warmer months. One such person is Nele Waltering, a 28-year-old environmental engineering student from Aachen, who has been residing on the approximately 10-hectare Norderoog (Schleswig-Holstein) in the Wadden Sea since April.
Nele is taking a break from her studies at Rostock before commencing her master's thesis. Norderoog has been under the protection of the Vogel- und Naturschutzverein Jordsand since 1909 and is primarily utilized for nature conservation, with a significant focus on bird preservation. Visitor groups are permitted mostly during the non-breeding season with special permission. The bird observatory's primary duty is to keep track of the migratory and nesting sea and coastal birds.
Norderoog is not the only bird-dedicated island in the North and Baltic Seas. The Schleswig-Holstein region, for instance, also has Trischen in Dithmarschen. In the Wadden Sea surrounding Hamburg, there's the bird island Scharhörn. Further west, in the Lower Saxon Wadden Sea, sandwiched between Borkum and Juist, lies the bird island Memmert.
Baltic Sea territories also boast their own bird islands. For instance, about 22 hectares in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are home to thousands of seabirds on Langenwerder, northeast of Poel. The bird sanctuary was established in 1910.
As with other bird islands, Langenwerder is generally off-limits to visitors. However, organized tours are offered during the non-breeding season.
Nele mentions that other bird islands, like Langenwerder in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, also adhere to the rule of being closed off to visitors during the breeding season, similar to Norderoog. Despite being off-limits for the majority of the year, organized tours are occasionally arranged for visitors to observe the seabirds during the non-breeding season.
