From 22. to 24. of November, the 14th German Seabird and Shorebird Colloquium of the Working Group on Seabird Conservation took place at the UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea Visitor Centre in Wilhelmshaven. The local hosts, the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park Authority and the Institute of avian research ‘Vogelwarte Helgoland’, welcomed almost 160 interested guests together with the chairman of the AG Seevogelschutz, Rolf de Vries - a colourful mix of representatives from various nature conservation associations, protected area administrations and authorities, research institutions and universities as well as many bird-loving private individuals. They had travelled to the Jade from near and far, from Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Switzerland, for an exciting programme of lectures and a stimulating exchange with colleagues and like-minded people. Peter Südbeck, Head of the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park Authority, kicked off the programme with an evening lecture on seabird and shorebird conservation in the national park. This was followed on Saturday and Sunday morning by 20 further fascinating presentations on current topics, from the effects of bird flu to the impact of man-made climate change on seabirds and shorebirds, with contributions on habitat utilisation, feeding ecology and intensive conservation measures and protection projects for selected species. On Sunday afternoon, the guests were then able to choose between three excursion destinations before departing. While one group visited the newly established exhibition on the common tern colony at Lake Banter in Wilhelmshaven, the other two groups travelled by bus to the western Jade Bay near Dangast and the Langwarder Groden in Butjadingen.

The German Seabird and Shorebird Colloquium of the AG Seevogelschutz is traditionally organised every two years with changing local hosts. We are already looking forward to seeing you again in Hamburg in 2026.