Wallnau Waterbird Reserve

The NABU water Wallnau is one of the most important protected areas for migratory birds in Germany and the largest protected center of the NABU. The former Teichgut Wallnau lies on the west coast of the Baltic island of Fehmarn and comprises a core of almost 300 hectares large area of ponds, reed beds, meadows, and a part of the Baltic Sea and the Strandsaumes. The nature center houses an exhibition on bird migration, a small catering operation and seminar rooms. The full-time and volunteer staff make the nature conservation care work and public relations. Head of NABU water Wallnau has September 2012 Old Martin Müller. The center has been certified as support of educational opportunities for sustainable development and member of the Network Baltic Flyway.

History

The existing ponds, reed beds, wet meadows and small woods area was originally a bay in the Baltic Sea before imagined spits and the resulting lake 400 years ago separated from the Baltic Sea.

In the 19th century, the area was drained by the engineer and surveyor Gustav Kröhnke; numerous fish ponds were created. These acquisitions led to a 575 -hectare area.

The drained lake has long been used for agricultural purposes before it was acquired in 1975 by the German Federation for Bird Preservation (now Naturschutzbund Germany NABU eV) and the circle East Holstein. NABU bought the area in 1976. Already in 1977 the area was designated as a nature reserve. Thus, the breeding and resting in the nature reserve of bird species could be protected.

To optimize the habitats of these birds, landscaping measures have been implemented in some areas.

In March 2010, NABU Wallnau the care of three other protected areas have been transferred to Fehmarn. For a more cross-linked reserve system is created on Fehmarn. A partial area bordered to the north already supervised by NABU nature reserve ( NSG) " Wallnau / Fehmarn" to. Two sub-areas are located between the NSG " Wallnau " and also supervised by NABU " NSG Krummsteert - Sulsdorfer Wiek / Fehmarn". The top North Peninsula and the islands in the Lemke hafen Wiek harboring among others a large silver gull colony, will in future also looks after the NABU Wallnau. The area covered by the EU Birds Directive and are Fauna-Flora -Habitat Areas in the European network of protected areas Natura 2000.

At the edge of today's NABU reserve was 1970, the Love- and- Peace Festival, a multi-day music festival, in which, inter alia, Jimi Hendrix had his last appearance before his death. A memorial stone today it.

Wallnau nature reserve / Fehmarn

On December 23, 1977, 298 hectares have been designated as a nature reserve by the State of Schleswig -Holstein and the care of the owner, Naturschutzbund Germany transferred.

Conservation

Over 270 species of birds use the areas of the nature reserve as roosting and resting place on their train. Around 100 species breed in Wallnau.

The data from the continuous water bird counts and mapping will be archived and transmitted to the collecting points. Employees of the Reserve take on tasks of nature protection organization of Schleswig Holstein true. The team of the water bird sanctuary takes in addition to the professional care of the NSG Wallnau also the on-site support, NSGs Green Brink and Krummsteert / Sulsdorfer Wiek on the island.

Since 2004, activities will be undertaken to amphibian conservation by NABU Wallnau. In the areas of natterjack toads and toads are mapped. The reserve also takes part in an EU project LIFE BaltCoast for better protection of the Baltic Sea lagoons and cooperates in this framework with Danish, Estonian, Lithuanian and Swedish partners. Within the project, comparative studies in waters along the Swedish and Danish Baltic coast are made.

In addition, the NABU Wallnau is integrated into the network Baltic Flyway. In the merger, Danish and Swedish Vogleschutzgebiete are interconnected, where the migratory waterbirds and waders rest.

Importance

Wallnau is a popular resting place for its location on the flight line for migratory birds and is also a popular venue in the summer of rare bird species such as Red-necked Grebe and Little Tern nesting site. The reserve may at any time be inspected by a path on the crown of the summer dike. From March to October, the information center of the NABU is open and there are also guided tours of the area.