Cranes

The autumn migration of the Cranes on the Baltic coast of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, between Rostock and the island of Rügen, must surely rank as one of the most magnificent and awe-inspiring wild-life spectacles to be experienced anywhere in Central Europe.
On their migration-flight from breeding grounds in the far north of Europe to winter quarters lying in southern Spain and North Africa, the Cranes stop off to rest and feed for several weeks on this stretch of Germany’s Baltic coast. At the time of this migration, in September and October, the air is often filled with the marvellous bugling calls of Cranes throughout the day. In thousands, and in tens of thousands, during the period between first light and sunrise, the birds fly from their roosts in the extensive shallow-water zone around the Werder islands and Bock island to the maize stubble and newly-sown cereal fields where they feed. In the evening, around sunset, they make the return-flight to their roosting grounds. The magnificent sight and uniquely lovely sound of the flying Cranes is further enhanced by the loud yelping chorus of thousands of White-fronted Geese, also migrants from further north, as they too take wing.

"Tilgner lay in wait and heard not just thousands of cranes murmuring in their sleep then taking flight in a crescendo of cries, but also the chattering of white and gray geese, the twittering of gold crests, the calls of curlews, the tittering of robin, and of course the rushing, rumbling, and singing of the sea... Anyone listening to this stimulating natural music on headphones will smell the fresh sea breeze when the young crane peeps and see the reeds bending in the wind." (Wirtschaftswoche)

For further information on Walter Tilgner, please visit his website: www.natur-tilgner.de