{"id":76235,"date":"2023-05-31T15:00:13","date_gmt":"2023-05-31T13:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/?post_type=magazin&#038;p=76235"},"modified":"2026-09-27T16:58:56","modified_gmt":"2026-09-27T14:58:56","slug":"bird-warden-in-the-wadden-sea-seven-months-alone","status":"publish","type":"magazin","link":"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/on-the-edge\/bird-warden-in-the-wadden-sea-seven-months-alone\/","title":{"rendered":"Bird warden in the Wadden Sea: seven months alone on an island"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<div class=\"cover--lead-in has-spacing--m\">\r\n\r\n    \r\n    <div class=\"cover--lead-in__content typo--tiempos\">\r\n\r\n        <div class=\"entry-categories\">\n\t<a class=\"post__tag\" href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine-category\/on-the-edge\/\" rel=\"category tag\">On the edge<\/a><\/div>\r\n        <h2 class=\"cover--lead-in__headline headline-size--s\">\r\n            Bird warden in the Wadden Sea: seven months alone on an island        <\/h2>\r\n\r\n                    <div class=\"cover--lead-in__text\">\r\n                <p>What months of isolation do to a person \u2013 and why the rising sea level becomes a daily worry.<br \/>\n<strong>By <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/moritz-hartenstein\/\">Moritz Hartenstein<\/a> (interview), <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/etienne-doetsch\/\">Etienne D\u00f6tsch<\/a> (photos)<\/strong><\/p>\n            <\/div>\r\n        \r\n                    <div class=\"cover--lead-in__author\">\r\n                \r\n                    \r\n                            <figure class=\"cover--lead-in__author__image\">\r\n\r\n                                                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/etienne-doetsch\/\" target=\"\">\r\n                                \r\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\r\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Doetsch-Etienne-68x68.jpg\"\r\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Doetsch-Etienne-68x68.jpg 68w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Doetsch-Etienne-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Doetsch-Etienne-52x52.jpg 52w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Doetsch-Etienne-96x96.jpg 96w\"\r\n                                    width=\"68\"\r\n                                    height=\"68\"\r\n                                    alt=\"\"\r\n                                \/>\r\n\r\n                                                                    <\/a>\r\n                                \r\n                            <\/figure>\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                            <figure class=\"cover--lead-in__author__image\">\r\n\r\n                                                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/moritz-hartenstein\/\" target=\"\">\r\n                                \r\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\r\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Moritz_Hartenstein-copy-68x68.jpg\"\r\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Moritz_Hartenstein-copy-68x68.jpg 68w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Moritz_Hartenstein-copy-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Moritz_Hartenstein-copy-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Moritz_Hartenstein-copy-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Moritz_Hartenstein-copy-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Moritz_Hartenstein-copy-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Moritz_Hartenstein-copy-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Moritz_Hartenstein-copy-1920x1920.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Moritz_Hartenstein-copy-1400x1400.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Moritz_Hartenstein-copy-1050x1050.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Moritz_Hartenstein-copy-670x670.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Moritz_Hartenstein-copy-420x420.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Moritz_Hartenstein-copy-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Moritz_Hartenstein-copy-52x52.jpg 52w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Moritz_Hartenstein-copy-96x96.jpg 96w\"\r\n                                    width=\"68\"\r\n                                    height=\"68\"\r\n                                    alt=\"\"\r\n                                \/>\r\n\r\n                                                                    <\/a>\r\n                                \r\n                            <\/figure>\r\n\r\n                                    <\/div><!-- .cover--lead-in__author -->\r\n        \r\n    <\/div><!-- .cover--lead-in__content -->\r\n\r\n    \r\n        <figure class=\"cover--lead-in__image cover--lead-in__media cover--lead-in__media--image\">\r\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\r\n                src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Anne-de-Walmonts-wattenmeer-etienne-doetsch-1920x1280.jpg\"\r\n                srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Anne-de-Walmonts-wattenmeer-etienne-doetsch-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Anne-de-Walmonts-wattenmeer-etienne-doetsch-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Anne-de-Walmonts-wattenmeer-etienne-doetsch-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Anne-de-Walmonts-wattenmeer-etienne-doetsch-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Anne-de-Walmonts-wattenmeer-etienne-doetsch-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Anne-de-Walmonts-wattenmeer-etienne-doetsch-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Anne-de-Walmonts-wattenmeer-etienne-doetsch-1400x933.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Anne-de-Walmonts-wattenmeer-etienne-doetsch-1050x700.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Anne-de-Walmonts-wattenmeer-etienne-doetsch-670x447.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Anne-de-Walmonts-wattenmeer-etienne-doetsch-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Anne-de-Walmonts-wattenmeer-etienne-doetsch-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Anne-de-Walmonts-wattenmeer-etienne-doetsch-150x100.jpg 150w\"\r\n                width=\"1920\"\r\n                height=\"1280\"\r\n                alt=\"Die Ornithologin Anne de Walmont schaut durch ihr Spektiv in Richtung Wattenmeer.\"\r\n                style=\"object-position: 66.33% 98.5%\"\r\n            \/>\r\n        <\/figure>\r\n\r\n        \r\n    \r\n<\/div><!-- .cover--lead-in -->\r\n\r\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-default has-spacing--m\"><strong>To protect the Wadden Sea, experts such as Anne de Walmont<\/strong> regularly collect data on the effects of climate change. The area, a key point on the East Atlantic Flyway, becomes home to around 12 million birds in autumn and spring and also hosts many resident birds over the winter. This underlines the need for comprehensive monitoring to preserve this important biosphere reserve. <br><br>After leaving school, Anne de Walmont did a voluntary ecological year on the island of Pellworm and then initially studied musicology and Scandinavian studies. In 2019 she returned to ornithology and worked as a nature warden on the island of Trischen, where she documented the bird life and recorded her experiences in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.knesebeck-verlag.de\/und_an_den_raendern_nagt_das_meer\/t-1\/937\">book<\/a>. Today she works as a freelance ornithologist.<\/p>\n\n\n    <figure class=\"block-photo post__image--full has-spacing--m no-title\">\n\n        <div class=\"post__image__container\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \n                src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/4-1-1400x933.jpg\"\n                srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/4-1-1400x933.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/4-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/4-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/4-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/4-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/4-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/4-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/4-1-1050x700.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/4-1-670x447.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/4-1-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/4-1-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/4-1-150x100.jpg 150w\"\n                width=\"1400\" \n                height=\"933\"\n                alt=\"The ornithologist Anne de Walmont looks through her spotting scope to count birds.\" \n            \/>\n            \n                    <\/div><!-- post__image__container -->\n\n                    <figcaption class=\"post__image__caption--soehne\"><p><strong>The ornithologist<\/strong> Anne de Walmont on the North Sea coast near Wremen.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption>\n        \n    <\/figure><!-- post__image -->\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"pinned-block has-spacing--m\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"pinned-block__column--left\">\n    \n\n \n    \n    <div id=\"quote-block_6dc0cb9e6324b765a42248270f207be1\" class=\"block-quote has-spacing--m\">\n        <figure class=\"quote\">\n            <blockquote>\n                <p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/silence\/minoo-hassanzadeh-i-dont-look-for-silence\/\">Nature<\/a> does what it wants<\/strong>, and you have to see how you deal with it.<\/p>\n            <\/blockquote>\n\n            <figcaption>\n\n                            <span><\/span>\n            <\/figcaption>\n            \n        <\/figure>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"pinned-block__column--right\">\n    \n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-typo--soehne has-spacing--xs\"><strong>Can you remember a particularly striking situation from your time on Trischen?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-default has-spacing--xs\">Two things come to mind straight away. My loo was a wooden shed, and one stormy day I wanted to go in. The whole island was deserted; all the birds were hiding from the wind. And then I came round the corner and there was a bird of prey \u2013 a sparrowhawk \u2013 sitting on the toilet lid. It got a terrible fright, and so did I. It almost flew into my face. You have to go to an island like that to get so close to a bird of prey (laughs). Then there was another time when I was out very far in the north of the island. There are no trees on Trischen, and I saw a dark cloud in the sky. According to the forecast, the storm was supposed to go elsewhere, but suddenly it was very close to the island. I had no choice but to crouch behind a dune \u2013 and they are not exactly high. I was lucky; it only just passed me by. But that is when I realised how exposed you simply are. Nature does what it wants, and you have to see how you deal with it. Those are moments that have really stayed with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-typo--soehne has-spacing--xs\"><strong>What were your tasks?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-default has-spacing--xs\">Documenting the bird life was definitely my main task. There were various survey programmes. In the mornings at sunrise, for example, I often recorded the migrating birds \u2013 mainly during the peak migration periods in spring and autumn. Every two weeks there was a spring-tide count, in which all the birds resting on the island at high tide are counted. The breeding birds were mapped in spring. And I constantly noted down chance sightings. Besides all the bird work, I also mapped the mudflats by sampling, for example. I surveyed the island, because it is not fixed and keeps moving towards the mainland. It is losing size and shape. It was also my job to stop other people coming onto the island, because Trischen lies in the national park\u2019s protected zone. I also regularly reported on a blog of the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union, NABU, on what was going on on the island.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n    <figure class=\"block-photo post__image--full has-spacing--m no-title\">\n\n        <div class=\"post__image__container\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \n                src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-1-1400x933.jpg\"\n                srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-1-1400x933.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-1-1050x700.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-1-670x447.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-1-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-1-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-1-150x100.jpg 150w\"\n                width=\"1400\" \n                height=\"933\"\n                alt=\"\" \n            \/>\n            \n                    <\/div><!-- post__image__container -->\n\n                    <figcaption class=\"post__image__caption--soehne\"><p><strong>The view<\/strong> through the spotting scope shows some birds sitting by the water.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption>\n        \n    <\/figure><!-- post__image -->\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"pinned-block has-spacing--m\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"pinned-block__column--left\">\n    \n\n \n    \n    <div id=\"quote-block_9a48f7c5f6e57067560ec771ba1c0eb6\" class=\"block-quote has-spacing--m\">\n        <figure class=\"quote\">\n            <blockquote>\n                <p><strong>I always said<\/strong> that what I would miss on the island was an iced coffee.<\/p>\n            <\/blockquote>\n\n            <figcaption>\n\n                            <span><\/span>\n            <\/figcaption>\n            \n        <\/figure>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"pinned-block__column--right\">\n    \n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-typo--soehne has-spacing--xs\"><strong>What was the first thing you did when you were back on the mainland<\/strong>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-default has-spacing--xs\">I always said that what I would miss on the island was an iced coffee. I love coffee, and in summer iced coffee. Unfortunately I had no way of freezing anything there. But I came back in autumn, so the temptation was not so great any more. I first went to a village on the coast to ease myself back in. Two or three days later, though, I was back in the city at a birthday party with 50 people, and that was no problem. It was a lovely experience to realise that I could go straight back among people and hadn\u2019t become a complete hermit. It was actually as if I had never been away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-typo--soehne has-spacing--xs\"><strong>Every two weeks you count the birds as a volunteer on the stretch of coast near Wremen, the village you come from. Why is it important to document bird populations?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph has-spacing--default\">These counts of waders and waterbirds have been carried out for many years, and because such a long data series exists, you can see clearly how the populations of individual species are developing. That is interesting for research and can also be a basis for discussing how certain species can be protected, or what state the Wadden Sea is in generally.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n \n\n<div class=\"photo-grid grid-layout--2col-5 has-spacing--m\">\n\n            \n\n            <div class=\"photo-grid__image\">\n\n                <figure>\n\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \n                        src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-1-768x512.jpg\" \n                        srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-1-1400x933.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-1-1050x700.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-1-670x447.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-1-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-1-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-1-150x100.jpg 150w\" \n                        width=\"768\"  \n                        height=\"512\" \n                        alt=\"\"  \n                    \/>\n\n                    \n                                            <figcaption class=\"photo-grid__image__caption--soehne\"><p><strong>In her hand<\/strong> Anne de Walmont holds a small tally counter for the bird count.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption>\n                    \n                <\/figure>\n\n            <\/div><!-- photo-grid__image -->    \n\n\n            \n\n                    \n                \n\n            <div class=\"photo-grid__image\">\n\n                <figure>\n\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \n                        src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/8-1-768x512.jpg\" \n                        srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/8-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/8-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/8-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/8-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/8-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/8-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/8-1-1400x933.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/8-1-1050x700.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/8-1-670x447.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/8-1-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/8-1-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/8-1-150x100.jpg 150w\" \n                        width=\"768\"  \n                        height=\"512\" \n                        alt=\"\"  \n                    \/>\n\n                    \n                                            <figcaption class=\"photo-grid__image__caption--soehne\"><p><strong>In her car, <\/strong>Anne de Walmont notes down the species and numbers of birds.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption>\n                    \n                <\/figure>\n\n            <\/div><!-- photo-grid__image -->    \n\n\n            \n\n            \n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"pinned-block has-spacing--m\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"pinned-block__column--left\">\n    \n\n \n    \n    <div id=\"quote-block_c4db9e0169008b6885c29cebbe627372\" class=\"block-quote has-spacing--m\">\n        <figure class=\"quote\">\n            <blockquote>\n                <p><strong>The Wadden Sea is defined by the fact<\/strong> that it falls dry twice a day. When water levels rise, fewer areas fall dry \u2013 and so there are fewer areas where the birds can look for food.<\/p>\n            <\/blockquote>\n\n            <figcaption>\n\n                            <span><\/span>\n            <\/figcaption>\n            \n        <\/figure>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"pinned-block__column--right\">\n    \n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-typo--soehne has-spacing--xs\"><strong>To what extent is climate change also noticeable in your work?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-default has-spacing--xs\">The consequences of <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/silence\/peatland-protection-bogs-climate-savers\/\">climate change<\/a> are becoming visible ever more quickly. Sea levels are rising. The Wadden Sea is defined by the fact that it falls dry twice a day. When water levels rise, fewer areas fall dry \u2013 and so there are fewer areas where the birds can look for food. That sets off a whole chain reaction. Or the sea gets warmer, so that species that are not really native here feel at home, while other species that used to be native no longer feel comfortable and move elsewhere. This causes a shift that may also throw a balance out of kilter.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-typo--soehne has-spacing--xs\"><strong>Finally: do you actually have a favourite bird? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-default has-spacing--xs\">I get asked that a lot (laughs). I used to always say the eider was my favourite bird. It is a very large, powerful sea duck. I find it so beautiful above all because the males all look different as they moult between breeding and eclipse plumage. I find that special. The females also make great noises. They can \u2018chug like a tractor\u2019 \u2013 at least that is what it says in the bird guide. But of course all birds are wonderful!<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"pinned-block has-spacing--none\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"pinned-block__column--left\">\n    \n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"pinned-block__column--right\">\n    \n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n    <figure class=\"block-photo post__image--full has-spacing--m no-title\">\n\n        <div class=\"post__image__container\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \n                src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/3-1.jpg\"\n                srcset=\"\"\n                width=\"1\" \n                height=\"1\"\n                alt=\"\" \n            \/>\n            \n                    <\/div><!-- post__image__container -->\n\n                    <figcaption class=\"post__image__caption--soehne\"><p><strong>Many birds<\/strong> perch on stones that were artificially laid along the shore.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption>\n        \n    <\/figure><!-- post__image -->\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-spacing--default has-spacing--default\">\n<div class=\"devider has-spacing--none\">\n    <hr>\n<\/div>\n\n\n \n\n    <div id=\"lead-in-block_1daa7aa10efebebe85554335e49ba01b\" class=\"block-lead-in typo--default font-size--xl has-spacing--s width--default\">\n        <p><strong>Recommended by the editors:<\/strong><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n        <div class=\"teaser-grid grid-layout--3col has-spacing--s width--inline\">\r\n\r\n            \r\n                <article class=\"post-teaser\">\r\n\r\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/collecting\/the-worlds-largest-playmobil-collection\/\" rel=\"permalink\">\r\n\r\n                        <div class=\"post-teaser__content\">\r\n\r\n                            <span class=\"entry-categories\">Collecting<\/span>\r\n                            <h3 class=\"post-teaser__headline\">\r\n                                The world&#8217;s largest Playmobil collection: 400,000 figures                            <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"post-teaser__excerpt\">\r\n                                <p>It all began in a child&#8217;s bedroom \u2013 today Oliver Schaffer owns the world&#8217;s largest Playmobil collection, with more than 400,000 figures. A visit to his high-bay warehouse.<\/p>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <\/div><!-- .post-teaser__content -->\r\n\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                            <figure class=\"post-teaser__image\">\r\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \r\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-768x614.jpg\" \r\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-768x614.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-1536x1229.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-1920x1536.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-1400x1120.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-1050x840.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-670x536.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-420x336.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-350x280.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-150x120.jpg 150w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px.jpg 2000w\" \r\n                                    width=\"768\"  \r\n                                    height=\"614\" \r\n                                    alt=\"\"\r\n                                \/>\r\n                            <\/figure>\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                    <\/a>\r\n\r\n                <\/article><!--- .post-teaser-->\r\n\r\n            \r\n                <article class=\"post-teaser\">\r\n\r\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/masculinity\/being-gay-is-not-a-choice\/\" rel=\"permalink\">\r\n\r\n                        <div class=\"post-teaser__content\">\r\n\r\n                            <span class=\"entry-categories\">Masculinity<\/span>\r\n                            <h3 class=\"post-teaser__headline\">\r\n                                \u2018Being gay is not a choice\u2019                            <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"post-teaser__excerpt\">\r\n                                <p>Dirk and Thomas came out to their families only recently. Today they live together as a couple. In an interview with our author, they talk about their path to an open life.<\/p>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <\/div><!-- .post-teaser__content -->\r\n\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                            <figure class=\"post-teaser__image\">\r\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \r\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-768x512.jpg\" \r\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-1400x933.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-1050x700.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-670x447.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-150x100.jpg 150w\" \r\n                                    width=\"768\"  \r\n                                    height=\"512\" \r\n                                    alt=\"\"\r\n                                \/>\r\n                            <\/figure>\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                    <\/a>\r\n\r\n                <\/article><!--- .post-teaser-->\r\n\r\n            \r\n                <article class=\"post-teaser\">\r\n\r\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/masculinity\/i-was-a-hitler-caricature\/\" rel=\"permalink\">\r\n\r\n                        <div class=\"post-teaser__content\">\r\n\r\n                            <span class=\"entry-categories\">Masculinity<\/span>\r\n                            <h3 class=\"post-teaser__headline\">\r\n                                \u2018I was a Hitler caricature from a bad Hollywood film\u2019                            <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"post-teaser__excerpt\">\r\n                                <p>He used to march through the streets in a leather coat, carrying the Reich war flag, giving hate speeches and dreaming of the great revolution. Today Axel Reitz works in extremism prevention.<\/p>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <\/div><!-- .post-teaser__content -->\r\n\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                            <figure class=\"post-teaser__image\">\r\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \r\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-768x512.jpg\" \r\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-1400x933.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-1050x700.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-670x447.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-150x100.jpg 150w\" \r\n                                    width=\"768\"  \r\n                                    height=\"512\" \r\n                                    alt=\"\"\r\n                                \/>\r\n                            <\/figure>\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                    <\/a>\r\n\r\n                <\/article><!--- .post-teaser-->\r\n\r\n            \r\n        <\/div><!-- .teaser-grid -->\r\n\r\n\n\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n        <div class=\"teaser-grid grid-layout--3col has-spacing--s width--inline\">\r\n\r\n            \r\n                <article class=\"post-teaser\">\r\n\r\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/guides\/photography-law-for-photojournalists\/\" rel=\"permalink\">\r\n\r\n                        <div class=\"post-teaser__content\">\r\n\r\n                            <span class=\"entry-categories\">Guides<\/span>\r\n                            <h3 class=\"post-teaser__headline\">\r\n                                Photography law for photojournalists: image rights and press freedom explained.                            <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"post-teaser__excerpt\">\r\n                                <p>What are photojournalists allowed to photograph and publish? This guide explains the right to one\u2019s own image under German law, where press freedom ends and personality rights begin \u2013 and how to work on the right side of the law.<\/p>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <\/div><!-- .post-teaser__content -->\r\n\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                            <figure class=\"post-teaser__image\">\r\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \r\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Presse-Fotorecht-0225-768x519.jpg\" \r\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Presse-Fotorecht-0225-768x519.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Presse-Fotorecht-0225-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Presse-Fotorecht-0225-1024x692.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Presse-Fotorecht-0225-1536x1038.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Presse-Fotorecht-0225-2048x1384.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Presse-Fotorecht-0225-1920x1298.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Presse-Fotorecht-0225-1400x946.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Presse-Fotorecht-0225-1050x710.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Presse-Fotorecht-0225-670x453.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Presse-Fotorecht-0225-420x284.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Presse-Fotorecht-0225-350x237.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Presse-Fotorecht-0225-150x101.jpg 150w\" \r\n                                    width=\"768\"  \r\n                                    height=\"519\" \r\n                                    alt=\"\"\r\n                                \/>\r\n                            <\/figure>\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                    <\/a>\r\n\r\n                <\/article><!--- .post-teaser-->\r\n\r\n            \r\n                <article class=\"post-teaser\">\r\n\r\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/collecting\/nuclear-waste-in-asse-ii\/\" rel=\"permalink\">\r\n\r\n                        <div class=\"post-teaser__content\">\r\n\r\n                            <span class=\"entry-categories\">Collecting<\/span>\r\n                            <h3 class=\"post-teaser__headline\">\r\n                                Nuclear waste in Asse II: what remains                            <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"post-teaser__excerpt\">\r\n                                <p>Nuclear waste lies deep inside Asse II \u2013 dumped carelessly, barely secured. Now water is getting in. A region has been waiting decades for answers, and the country for a permanent repository.<\/p>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <\/div><!-- .post-teaser__content -->\r\n\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                            <figure class=\"post-teaser__image\">\r\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \r\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Walter-Lehmann_The-Danger-Within_10-768x318.jpg\" \r\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Walter-Lehmann_The-Danger-Within_10-768x318.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Walter-Lehmann_The-Danger-Within_10-300x124.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Walter-Lehmann_The-Danger-Within_10-1024x424.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Walter-Lehmann_The-Danger-Within_10-1536x636.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Walter-Lehmann_The-Danger-Within_10-2048x847.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Walter-Lehmann_The-Danger-Within_10-1920x794.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Walter-Lehmann_The-Danger-Within_10-1400x579.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Walter-Lehmann_The-Danger-Within_10-1050x434.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Walter-Lehmann_The-Danger-Within_10-670x277.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Walter-Lehmann_The-Danger-Within_10-420x174.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Walter-Lehmann_The-Danger-Within_10-350x145.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Walter-Lehmann_The-Danger-Within_10-150x62.jpg 150w\" \r\n                                    width=\"768\"  \r\n                                    height=\"318\" \r\n                                    alt=\"\"\r\n                                \/>\r\n                            <\/figure>\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                    <\/a>\r\n\r\n                <\/article><!--- .post-teaser-->\r\n\r\n            \r\n                <article class=\"post-teaser\">\r\n\r\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/what-holds-us-together\/reality-tv-life-in-front-of-the-cameras\/\" rel=\"permalink\">\r\n\r\n                        <div class=\"post-teaser__content\">\r\n\r\n                            <span class=\"entry-categories\">What holds us together<\/span>\r\n                            <h3 class=\"post-teaser__headline\">\r\n                                Reality TV: life in front of the cameras                            <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"post-teaser__excerpt\">\r\n                                <p>Millions watch as strangers fall in love, fight and fail. But how much reality is there really in it?<\/p>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <\/div><!-- .post-teaser__content -->\r\n\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                            <figure class=\"post-teaser__image\">\r\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \r\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Isabel_Reda_Still-1-768x960.jpg\" \r\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Isabel_Reda_Still-1-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Isabel_Reda_Still-1-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Isabel_Reda_Still-1-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Isabel_Reda_Still-1-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Isabel_Reda_Still-1-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Isabel_Reda_Still-1-1920x2400.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Isabel_Reda_Still-1-1400x1750.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Isabel_Reda_Still-1-1050x1313.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Isabel_Reda_Still-1-670x838.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Isabel_Reda_Still-1-420x525.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Isabel_Reda_Still-1-350x438.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Isabel_Reda_Still-1-300x375.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Isabel_Reda_Still-1-150x188.jpg 150w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Isabel_Reda_Still-1-scaled.jpg 2048w\" \r\n                                    width=\"768\"  \r\n                                    height=\"960\" \r\n                                    alt=\"\"\r\n                                \/>\r\n                            <\/figure>\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                    <\/a>\r\n\r\n                <\/article><!--- .post-teaser-->\r\n\r\n            \r\n        <\/div><!-- .teaser-grid -->\r\n\r\n\n\n\n    <div class=\"btn-wrapper has-spacing--m\">\n        <a class=\"btn\" href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/\" target=\"_blank\">TO THE MAGAZINE HOMEPAGE<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":20057,"template":"","tags":[370,424,397,425,331,386,427],"magazinkategorie":[419],"class_list":["post-76235","magazin","type-magazin","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-klima-umwelt-en","tag-doetsch-en","tag-nature-animals","tag-on-the-edge-en","tag-photo-series-en","tag-stadt-land-en","tag-water-en","magazinkategorie-on-the-edge"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Bird warden in the Wadden Sea: seven months alone on an island<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What months of isolation do to a person \u2013 and why the rising sea level becomes a daily worry.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/on-the-edge\/bird-warden-in-the-wadden-sea-seven-months-alone\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Bird warden in the Wadden Sea: seven months alone on an island\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What months of isolation do to a person \u2013 and why the rising sea level becomes a daily worry.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" 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