Nature Blog – Stories about nature and birding -

A Project for Salmon Becomes a Game-changer for Threatened Birds

Marbled Murrelets

Marbled murrelets are small seabirds from the North Pacific. Unusually for seabirds they nest in old forests or on the ground at heights where trees cannot grow. Due to the decline of their population, numerous forest conservation programs have been established to preserve the marbled murrelets.

Peter Stangel tells us about the typical challenges concerning the protection of this rare bird species. The Western Rivers Conservancy's project plays a crucial role for their conservation. Although it was meant for improving the water quality of salmon habitats, there are also huge benefits for marbled murrelets.

blue creek, marbled murrelets, murrelets, peter stangel, rich macintosh, usa, western rivers conservancy, yurok tribe, ZEISS |

Great skua behaviour and plane strike risk in Shetland

Fair Isle special protection area for rare seabirds

Fair Isle is a Scottish island belonging to the Shetland Islands. For birders it’s not only an important stopover for migratory birds. Fair Isle is also home for the great skua, a rare species of seabirds.

Glen Tyler and Bethany Stonier study the behavior of these birds. They give us an insight into their exciting research, which seeks to ensure the preservation of great skuas despite human influences.

bethany stonier, bonxie, david parnaby, fair isle, glen tyler, great skua, seabirds, shetland islands |

Beyond the Horizon

Seabird Monitoring in Eilat

Eilat is a well-known hotspot for nature observers from all around the world. Not only on land, but also over the sea, various species of birds can be observed in southern Israel.

Our expert Noam Weiss takes us on his exciting Red Sea expeditions via sailing ship to explore the behavior and habitats of seabirds.

Binoculars, Eilat, noam weiss, red sea, seabird, spotting scope, storm-petrel, VICTORY SF, ZEISS |

Bowerbirds

Feathered artists

Bowerbirds rank among the most intelligent bird species with some habits quite similar human beings. In total, 20 bowerbird species exist in Australia and New Guinea. This exceptional species of passerine birds are well-known for their special building art.

Bowerbirds are not just great at building their nests. They are also big artists in voice imitation. Bowerbirds are able to master 44 different bird songs. Michaela Sulz tells us about some unique impressions, which arouse interest for the next birding adventure.

australia, bird watching, birding, bowerbirds, michaela sulz, nest construction, new guinea, passerine birds |

Birder by Profession

The Data Millionaire

In Germany, the online portal ornitho.de is the database for all bird lovers. Over 30 million reports indicate where a bird has been seen. Ornitho portals are also available in some neighboring countries. On eurobirdportal.org all bird information across Europe converges.

One of the professional drivers behind ornitho.de is Christopher König, a passionate birdwatcher and nowadays a millionaire in data. Find out more about the person behind the platform and how he has managed to turn his hobby into a profession.

bearded vulture, birding, christopher könig, eurobirdportal, heligoland, michaela sulz, ornitho.de, ornithologist |

Spring at the Carl Zeiss Bird Station

Lapwing festival on 22th of April 2018

It's getting spring at Wedel Marsh. With the change of seasons more birds are coming here while others are stocking up on reserves for their journey home.

Young birder Sören Rust is talking about the bustling activity at Wedel Marsh. You can experience the beautiful variety of birds at their yearly lapwing event.

barnacle goose, carl zeiss bird station, lapwing festival, little ringed plover, red-breasted goose, sören rust, teal, wedel marsh |

The bird’s flyway conservation family

Champions of the Flyway 2018

Once a year birdwatcher from all over the world meet up in Eilat (Israel). All of them trying to protect the migratory flyway from Africa to Europe and Asia.

The event is a birding race to collect money for campaigns against illegal killing of birds on the flyway.

Binoculars, Champions of the Flyway, Eilat, israel, noam weiss, Spotting Scopes, victory harpia, VICTORY SF, ZEISS |

Extreme Birding

Challenges for observers and optics

For their passion of birdwatching lots of birders all around the world often take on great challenges and bring themselves and also their optical equipment to its limits.

Michaela Sulz gives us exciting insights into "Extreme Birding" and impressively shows that even under harsh conditions, you can rely on premium optics from ZEISS.

big year, birdwatching, Champions of the Flyway, extreme birding, harpy eagle, victory harpia, VICTORY SF, ZEISS |

Young Birders Club Heads to Lake Öjendorf

A haven for aquatic birds in eastern Hamburg

Hamburg has plenty to offer birders besides the Carl Zeiss Bird Station. Way out to the east of the city is Lake Öjendorf, where several rare duck species can be observed, especially during the winter.

With top-end ZEISS gear in tow, Sören Rust meets the Young Birders Club at the lake – together, they make a few remarkable discoveries. Even the bad weather can’t dampen their spirits.

black coot, carl zeiss bird station, common bittern, egyptian goose, eurasian pochard, goldeneye, gray heron, hamburg, lake öjendorf, naju, sören rust, taiga-redpoll, tufted pochard, VICTORY SF, young birders club, ZEISS |

The secret garden of birding

ZEISS and the "International Birding and Research Center" in Eilat

Eilat is famous for its International Birding and Research Center. As the only land bridge connection between Eurasia and Africa it's a hotspot for birdwatching in Israel. Birds can stop there safely before they continue their flight through the foodless Sahara desert.

Noam Weiss, the director of the IBRCE in Eilat, tells you about his passion for birding and how he finds peace through nature observation. One of the most important things is to be well equipped with professional optics. Noam relies on ZEISS binoculars.

birding, conquest-gavia, Eilat, International Birding and Research Center, israel, nature observation, noam weiss, terra, VICTORY SF, ZEISS |