Dithmarscher Eiderwatt
Encyclopedia
The Dithmarscher Eiderwatt, officially the Dithmarscher Eidervorland mit Watt ("Dittmarschen Eider Foreland and Watt"), is a nature reserve
in the district of Dithmarschen in the north German state of Schleswig-Holstein
. The site has an area of 620 hectares (1,532.1 acre) which consists of the mudflat
s on the tidal current of the river Eider
. It is run by the German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union, NABU
.
The nature reserve is located on the Dithmarschen side of the Eider foreland, from the Eider Barrage
to the Eider bridge on the B 5
federal highway near Tönning. It therefore lies within the municipal boundaries of the villages of Wesselburenerkoog
, Schülp
and Karolinenkoog
. On the North Frisian side of the river lies the nature reserve of Katinger Watt
.
The reserve was based on the considerably smaller (19.4 hectares (47.9 acre)) nature reserve known as the Schülper Neuensiel Bird Reserve which existed from 1930 to 1989. The reserve was expanded in order to moderate the environmental effects of the Eider Barrage which had destroyed large areas of mudflat and salt meadows in the tidal stream of the river Eider and led to a significant reduction in birds of passage.
In section 3 of the nature conservation order it states: "The nature reserve enables the retention of a wet area in the tidal saltwaters and brackish waters of the Eider estuary and its mudflat and foreland areas and the conservation of animal and plant habitats typical of such areas, particularly for the wading and water birds that breed here or pass through on migration as well as the invertebrates occurring here."
According to the count of breeding birds by NABU
in 2006 a total of 35 species (2165 pairs) breed in the reserve. If manmade areas are included, such as around the Eider Barrage, the port of Schülperneuensiel and the Eider bridge, the number rises to 43. Dominant species, with at least 5% of the population, were the Black-headed Gull
(22.2%), Avocet
(13.9%), Lapwing
(10.3%), Oystercatcher
(9.6%), Redshank
(9.1%), Meadow Pipit
(6.5%) and Mallard
(5.7%). Subdominant species were the Skylark
(4.6%), Reed Bunting
(4.2%) and Arctic Tern
(2.4%); followed by the Gadwall
(1.9%), Shelduck
(1.2%) and Yellow Wagtail (1.3%).
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
in the district of Dithmarschen in the north German state of Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
. The site has an area of 620 hectares (1,532.1 acre) which consists of the mudflat
Mudflat
Mudflats or mud flats, also known as tidal flats, are coastal wetlands that form when mud is deposited by tides or rivers. They are found in sheltered areas such as bays, bayous, lagoons, and estuaries. Mudflats may be viewed geologically as exposed layers of bay mud, resulting from deposition of...
s on the tidal current of the river Eider
Eider
Eiders are large seaducks in the genus Somateria. Steller's Eider, despite its name, is in a different genus.The three extant species all breed in the cooler latitudes of the Northern hemisphere....
. It is run by the German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union, NABU
Nabu
Nabu is the Assyrian and Babylonian god of wisdom and writing, worshipped by Babylonians as the son of Marduk and his consort, Sarpanitum, and as the grandson of Ea. Nabu's consort was Tashmetum....
.
The nature reserve is located on the Dithmarschen side of the Eider foreland, from the Eider Barrage
Eider Barrage
The Eider Barrage is located at the mouth of the river Eider near Tönning on Germany’s North Sea coast. Its main purpose is protection from storm surges by the North Seas. It is Germany’s largest coastal protection structure...
to the Eider bridge on the B 5
Bundesstraße 5
The Bundesstraße 5 or B5 is a German federal highway running in a northwesterly to southeasterly direction from the Danish border near Niebüll to Frankfurt . It provides a direct route for motorists traveling between Berlin and Hamburg. In Berlin B5 forms among others the following squares and...
federal highway near Tönning. It therefore lies within the municipal boundaries of the villages of Wesselburenerkoog
Wesselburenerkoog
Wesselburenerkoog is a municipality in the district of Dithmarschen, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany....
, Schülp
Schülp
Schülp may refer to the following places in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany:*Schülp, Dithmarschen, in the district of Dithmarschen*Schülp bei Rendsburg, in the district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde*Schülp bei Nortorf, in the district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde...
and Karolinenkoog
Karolinenkoog
Karolinenkoog is a municipality in the district of Dithmarschen, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.In 1800 the municipality was named after the polder , which was named in honour of Princess Caroline of Denmark....
. On the North Frisian side of the river lies the nature reserve of Katinger Watt
Katinger Watt
The Katinger Watt is a nature reserve in the south of the Eiderstedt peninsula in the north German state of Schleswig-Holstein which is run by the German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union, NABU....
.
The reserve was based on the considerably smaller (19.4 hectares (47.9 acre)) nature reserve known as the Schülper Neuensiel Bird Reserve which existed from 1930 to 1989. The reserve was expanded in order to moderate the environmental effects of the Eider Barrage which had destroyed large areas of mudflat and salt meadows in the tidal stream of the river Eider and led to a significant reduction in birds of passage.
In section 3 of the nature conservation order it states: "The nature reserve enables the retention of a wet area in the tidal saltwaters and brackish waters of the Eider estuary and its mudflat and foreland areas and the conservation of animal and plant habitats typical of such areas, particularly for the wading and water birds that breed here or pass through on migration as well as the invertebrates occurring here."
According to the count of breeding birds by NABU
Nabu
Nabu is the Assyrian and Babylonian god of wisdom and writing, worshipped by Babylonians as the son of Marduk and his consort, Sarpanitum, and as the grandson of Ea. Nabu's consort was Tashmetum....
in 2006 a total of 35 species (2165 pairs) breed in the reserve. If manmade areas are included, such as around the Eider Barrage, the port of Schülperneuensiel and the Eider bridge, the number rises to 43. Dominant species, with at least 5% of the population, were the Black-headed Gull
Black-headed Gull
The Black-headed Gull is a small gull which breeds in much of Europe and Asia, and also in coastal eastern Canada. Most of the population is migratory, wintering further south, but some birds in the milder westernmost areas of Europe are resident...
(22.2%), Avocet
Pied Avocet
The Pied Avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta, is a large black and white wader in the avocet and stilt family, Recurvirostridae. They breed in temperate Europe and western and Central Asia. It is a migratory species and most winter in Africa or southern Asia...
(13.9%), Lapwing
Northern Lapwing
The Northern Lapwing , also known as the Peewit, Green Plover or just Lapwing, is a bird in the plover family. It is common through temperate Eurasia....
(10.3%), Oystercatcher
Eurasian Oystercatcher
The Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus, also known as the Common Pied Oystercatcher, or just Oystercatcher, is a wader in the oystercatcher bird family Haematopodidae. It is the most widespread of the oystercatchers, with three races breeding in western Europe, central Eurasia,...
(9.6%), Redshank
Common Redshank
The Common Redshank or simply Redshank is an Eurasian wader in the large family Scolopacidae.- Description and systematics :...
(9.1%), Meadow Pipit
Meadow Pipit
The Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis, is a small passerine bird which breeds in much of the northern half of Europe and also northwestern Asia, from southeastern Greenland and Iceland east to just east of the Ural Mountains in Russia, and south to central France and Romania; there is also an isolated...
(6.5%) and Mallard
Mallard
The Mallard , or Wild Duck , is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia....
(5.7%). Subdominant species were the Skylark
Skylark
The Skylark is a small passerine bird species. This lark breeds across most of Europe and Asia and in the mountains of north Africa. It is mainly resident in the west of its range, but eastern populations are more migratory, moving further south in winter. Even in the milder west of its range,...
(4.6%), Reed Bunting
Reed Bunting
The Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus, is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a group now separated by most modern authors from the finches, Fringillidae....
(4.2%) and Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern
The Arctic Tern is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. This bird has a circumpolar breeding distribution covering the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America...
(2.4%); followed by the Gadwall
Gadwall
The Gadwall is a common and widespread duck of the family Anatidae.- Description :The Gadwall is 46–56 cm long with a 78–90 cm wingspan. The male is slightly larger than the female, weighing on average 990 g against her 850 g...
(1.9%), Shelduck
Common Shelduck
The Common Shelduck is a waterfowl species shelduck genus Tadorna. It is widespread and common in Eurasia, mainly breeding in temperate and wintering in subtropical regions; in winter, it can also be found in the Maghreb...
(1.2%) and Yellow Wagtail (1.3%).
Source
- Landesamt für Natur und Umwelt des Landes Schleswig-Holstein (Hrsg): einzigartig – Naturführer durch Schleswig Holstein, Wachholtz Verlag, Neumünster 2008, ISBN 978-3-529-05415-0