Wings of the Wadden SeaThroughout the Wadden Sea there are dozens of species of amazingly unique birds each with a significant value to the local ecosystem. The fascinating characteristics of these birds draw ornathologists and hobbyists from across globe spurring the local tourism industry and burgeoning conservation efforts. It can be said that the Wadden Sea’ fate is then both symbolically and intrinsically tied to that of it’s birds.

Starlings• Starlings have strong feet, their flight is strong and direct, and

they are very gregarious.

• Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruit

• Several species live around human habitation

• Many species search for prey such as grubs by "open-bill probing", that is, forcefully opening the bill after inserting it into a crevice, thus expanding the hole and exposing the prey.

• Plumage of many species is typically dark with a metallic sheen. Most species nest in holes, laying blue or white eggs.

The starlings sounds• Starlings have diverse and complex vocalizations, and have been known to embed sounds from their surroundings into their own calls, including car alarms, and human speech patterns. The birds can recognize particular individuals by their calls, and are currently the subject of research into the evolution of human language.

Starlings colour and habitat• The plumage of the starlings is often brightly coloured due

to iridescence this colour is derived from the structure of the feathers, not from any pigment

• The starlings inhabit a wide range of habitats from the Arctic Circle to the Equator, in fact the only habitat they do not typically occupy is the driest sandy deserts.

• The European Starling is highly widespread in its habitat, occupying most types of open habitat. Like many other starling species it has also adapted readily to human-modified habitat, including farmland, orchards, plantations and urban areas

The starlings behaviour• The starlings are generally a highly social family. Most species

associate in flocks of varying sizes throughout the year. A flock of starlings is called a murmuration.  These flocks may include other species of starlings and sometimes species from other families. This sociality is particularly evident in the their roosting behaviour; in the non-breeding season some roosts can number in the thousands of birds.

• The diets of the starlings are usually dominated by fruits and insects.

• Starlings have been observed feeding on fermenting over-ripe fruit, which led to the speculation that they might become intoxicated by the alcohol.

The Buzzard• A medium-to-large bird of prey, whose range covers most of Europe

and extends into Asia.

•  usually resident year-round, 

• a 109–136 cm (43–54 in) wingspan and a body mass of 427–1,364 g (0.941–3.007 lb), making it a medium-sized raptor

•  pure white to black, but is usually shades of brown, with a pale 'necklace' of feathers.

• The Common Buzzard breeds in woodlands, usually on the fringes, but favours hunting over open land. It eats mainly small mammals,

•  it adapts well to a varied diet of pheasant, rabbit, other small mammals to medium mammals, snakes and lizards, and can often be seen walking over recently ploughed fields looking for worms and insects.

The Buzzards behaviour• Buzzards do not normally form flocks, but several may be seen

together on migration or in good habitat

•  Pairs mate for life. 

• To attract a mate (or impress his existing mate) the male performs a ritual aerial display before the beginning of spring.

• The call is a plaintive peea-ay, similar to a cat's meow

The Redshank• The redshank is most commonly found in two varieties the Spotted

Redshank and the Common Redshank.

• These two breeds are easily distinguishable from one another during breeding the season of the spring months when the Spotted Redshank dawns a dark black plumage of feathers to attract potential mates whereas the Common Redshank does not. However, in wintertime when the Spotted Redshank has a pale plumage it looks almost identical to the Common Redshank.

Redshank Peculiarities• The Redshank is well known for its loud and somewhat obnoxious

piping call often scaring other birds away and making them quite easy to spot

• The Redshank feeds by wading through shallow estuaries and muddy costal rivers and plunging it’s sharp beak into the water to reap Hydrophobia sp., Corophium sp. and nereid worms.