National park Wadden Sea
The Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park is one of the most important national parks in Germany and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It stretches along the North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein and covers an area of 4,400 square kilometers. The Wadden Sea is a unique ecosystem that provides a habitat for numerous animal and plant species and serves as a resting place for millions of migratory birds every year. The national park administration works intensively to protect and maintain this sensitive natural area. Its most important tasks include the preservation of biodiversity, the promotion of environmental education and the implementation of scientific research projects.
Our support for the national park
The Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park has received annual funding of € 28,888.89 as part of the 2021-2025 VAT benefit campaign. These funds were used to implement two important projects.
Robben.App - Digital help for marine mammals
The national park administration's new app makes it easier to quickly and accurately report seals and other marine mammals on Schleswig-Holstein's North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts. Thanks to the location function and simple operation, citizens can report finds - e.g. abandoned or injured animals - directly to the responsible seal hunters. The app is a valuable tool for locals and holidaymakers alike to support the protection of seals, grey seals and harbour porpoises. The project was commissioned by the national park administration (LKN.SH) and implemented by Essenberger Design (Husum) and meeresmedien (Hamburg). The app is available free of charge in all popular stores.
Impressions
Photos:
Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park
Martin Stock / LKN.SH
Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park
Martin Stock / LKN.SH
Our Wadden Sea bird - GPS tracking for the protection of the avocet
Since 2022, avocets in the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea have been fitted with GPS transmitters to scientifically study their migration and breeding behavior. 56 birds have been tagged so far at locations such as Beltringharder Koog, Hallig Oland and Rickelsbüller Koog. The transmitters provide detailed data on migration routes, foraging and space utilization. One particular result was the analysis of foraging trips - foraging flights during the breeding season. These lasted an average of 1.85 hours and covered 2.69 kilometers. Females were usually on the move for slightly longer than males. The results are also included in an interactive map on the national park's website. A total of over €84,000 has been invested in the project so far.
Impressions
Photos:
Mads Eskildsen / FTZ
Christian Wiedemann / LKN.SH
Photo trap Wadden Sea Protection Station
Philipp Schwemmer / FTZ
Mads Eskildsen / FTZ
Christian Wiedemann / LKN.SH
Photo trap Wadden Sea Protection Station
Philipp Schwemmer / FTZ
2025
- Further data analyses planned: Factors influencing foraging (e.g. water level, sediment, availability of residual water areas)
- Goal: Develop statistical models for habitat selection
- Project costs (planned): 17.838,10 €
- Total costs of the project until 2025: € 84,245.20
2024
- Transmission of 20 more avocets, for the first time with a lighter transmitter type (OrniTrack-6)
- New study region: Rickelsbüller Koog on the Danish border
- Master's thesis on food availability and use of the Römö Dam in preparation
- Research focus: Foraging trips - foraging flights during the breeding season (average duration: 1.85 hours, distance: 2.69 km; females usually traveled longer than males)
- Public presentation continued by new, fictitious "breeding pair" in the online map
- Project costs 2024: € 19,266.10
2023
- 25 additional transmitters deployed, bringing the total to 39
- New colonies: Beltringharder Koog (nature conservation koog) and Hallig Oland
- Complete breeding pairs tagged for the first time
- Individual migration patterns evaluated: routes as far as Senegal, frequent stopovers in the trilateral Wadden Sea (Denmark, Germany, Netherlands)
- Males leave the breeding area on average eight days later than females
- Launch of the interactive online map with live data of a breeding pair
- Launch of the interactive online map with live data of a breeding pair
- Project costs 2023: 27.181 €
2022
- 14 avocets equipped with GPS-GSM transmitters (type OrniTrack-9)
- Breeding habitats: South Dithmarschen (Elbe estuary) and Sönke-Nissen-Koog (forelands of North Frisian salt marshes)
- Transmitters record position, speed and altitude, among other things; data is transmitted via GSM to the movebank.org platform
- Findings on initial migration routes and preferred stopover areas such as the Weser estuary and Jade Bay
- Project costs 2022: € 19,960
2021
Thanks to funding from the proWIN pro nature Foundation, the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park Authority was able to develop the Robben.app, which has been in use since October 2023.
