Johannes Thienemann
Encyclopedia
Johannes Thienemann was a German
ornithologist
and a pioneer bird bander
who established the Rossitten Bird Observatory
, the world’s first.
Thienemann was born in Gangloffsömmern
, Thuringia
. His education was focused on training him for Christian ministry. He later worked as a teacher but found his vocation in ornithology, in particular the study of bird migration
. In 1901 he founded the bird observatory
on the Curonian Spit
at Rossitten, East Prussia
(now Rybachy, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia
), where he carried out his ornithological work for the rest of his life, though retiring as director of the observatory in 1929. He died at Rossitten in his 75th year.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
ornithologist
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
and a pioneer bird bander
Bird ringing
Bird ringing or bird banding is a technique used in the study of wild birds, by attaching a small, individually numbered, metal or plastic tag to their legs or wings, so that various aspects of the bird's life can be studied by the ability to re-find the same individual later...
who established the Rossitten Bird Observatory
Rossitten Bird Observatory
The Rossitten Bird Observatory was the world's first ornithological observatory. It was sited at Rossitten, East Prussia , on the Curonian Spit on the south-eastern coast of the Baltic Sea...
, the world’s first.
Thienemann was born in Gangloffsömmern
Gangloffsömmern
Gangloffsömmern is a municipality in the Sömmerda district of Thuringia, Germany....
, Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
. His education was focused on training him for Christian ministry. He later worked as a teacher but found his vocation in ornithology, in particular the study of bird migration
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
. In 1901 he founded the bird observatory
Bird observatory
A bird observatory is a centre for the study of bird migration and bird populations. They are usually focused on local birds, but may also include interest in far flung areas. Most bird observatories are small operations with a limited staff, many volunteers and a not-for-profit educational status...
on the Curonian Spit
Curonian Spit
The Curonian Spit is a 98 km long, thin, curved sand-dune spit that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea coast. Its southern portion lies within Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia and its northern within southwestern Lithuania...
at Rossitten, East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
(now Rybachy, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
), where he carried out his ornithological work for the rest of his life, though retiring as director of the observatory in 1929. He died at Rossitten in his 75th year.
Honours
Honours received by Thienemann include:- Goethe Medal for Art and ScienceGoethe-Medaille für Kunst und WissenschaftThe Goethe-Medaille für Kunst und Wissenschaft was a German award. It was authorized by Reichspresident Paul von Hindenburg to commemorate the centenary of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's death on March 22, 1932...
- Honorary Membership of the Deutsche Ornithologen-GesellschaftDeutsche Ornithologen-GesellschaftThe Deutsche Ornithologen-Gesellschaft was founded in 1850, and is one of the world's oldest existing scientific societies. Its goal is to support and further scientific ornithology on all levels. It publishes the Journal of Ornithology, founded in 1853....
(German Ornithological Society) - Corresponding FellowshipFellowA fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the American Ornithologists' UnionAmerican Ornithologists' UnionThe American Ornithologists' Union is an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders...
Publications
Books authored by Thienemann include:- 1927 – Rossitten. Drei Jahrzehnte auf der kurischen Nehrung. Neumann: Neudamm. (In German)
- 1931 – Vom Vogelzuge in Rossitten. Neumann: Neudamm. (In German)
- 1935 – Von Elchen, Störchen, Krähen und anderem Getier auf der Kurischen Nehrung. Eichblatt: Leipzig. (In German)