Birdlife Devin
Over 100 species of breeding, migratory and resting birds have been recorded in the area. Regular breeding birds include barred warbler, common rosefinch, skylark, yellowhammer, reed bunting, whinchat and red-backed shrike. Rare breeding birds include the shelduck, red-breasted merganser and great grey shrike. Sand martins regularly breed on the steep bank at a height of 19.5 m. Unfortunately, the steep bank is repeatedly climbed, resulting in the loss of clutches.
The Deviner Haken with its shallow water areas is an important resting and roosting place for waders, ducks, geese, cormorants and swans all year round. The birds can be easily observed with binoculars. The Deviner Haken itself is closed. Otters are regular visitors to the peninsula. Less large, but not inconspicuous, are the fritillary butterfly, the ducat butterfly and the large king dragonfly. If you hear croaking, you can expect to hear moor frogs, grass frogs or water frogs.
You will soon find more information about the birdlife on the Devin Peninsula here
State of birdlife Devin 2024
Birds have been continuously observed on the Devin Peninsula since around 1985 and species, abundance and breeding have been documented.
The habitat for birds corresponds to an open and scrubby field and pasture landscape. With small-scale bogs, completely silted areas of sandy shoreline, extensive stands of gorse, a water lily pond, overgrown sand and clay pits, paths lined with pollarded willows and the dilapidated ring kiln of a former brickworks (now a bat roost), the area is extremely varied. In addition, shallow, narrow sandy beaches and a cliff up to 20 metres high with boulder clay and sands on the Strelasund and reedy shores on Lake Devin add to the varied character and unique natural features of the Devin Peninsula Nature Reserve. Accordingly, a species-rich avifauna is also to be expected on the peninsula.
Unfortunately, it must be noted that the Devin Peninsula is (also) affected by the serious decline in species diversity as well as the number of individuals of formerly common breeding bird species. While resident birds such as tits, crows, great spotted woodpeckers, nuthatches, treecreepers and wrens regularly occur with their usual frequency, the decline in summer birds is striking.
Field warbler, reed warbler, yellow warbler, red-backed shrike, oriole, tree sparrow - which members of the Friends' Association used to be able to list regularly in several breeding pairs - have now become a rarity. On the other hand, an increase in some bird species has been observed: e.g. carmine finch and several marsupial tits. All three native bunting species, skylarks, willow warblers and willow warblers currently find ideal breeding conditions in the Devin Peninsula Nature Reserve. This also applies to the 4 species of warbler: warbler, whitethroat, rattler and blackcap.
Of particular interest is the increase in the number of blackcaps, which can now be described as the most common warbler species. While the main mass of blackcaps used to migrate southwards and seek out the Mediterranean countries or North Africa as wintering grounds, a sub-population has always travelled westwards and wintered on the west coasts of England and Ireland. Fewer losses occur on this migration route (no crossing of the Alps, no bird hunting as in the countries bordering the Mediterranean). This population has therefore increased, arrives in the breeding area earlier on its return journey and can prioritise suitable territories. Some blackcaps are already overwintering here, so that they are regularly found at the winter feeding sites.
The shallow water areas and sandy hooks around the Devin peninsula are feeding and resting grounds for waterfowl. Especially in winter, large gatherings of coots, northern diving ducks and the three merganser species can be observed on ice-free water areas.
Due to the narrow beaches, constant monitoring by the red fox and, last but not least, visitor traffic (often with dogs), the Devin Peninsula nature reserve is probably less likely to be a breeding area for gulls, terns or waders. Only coots, moorhens and mallards can be mentioned as regular breeding birds.
Breeding is suspected for two pairs of shelducks, which are always found in the summer months both near the shore and on sandy embankments in the interior of the peninsula or when flying over the nature reserve. However, the shelducks have not yet been observed with young birds.
The habitat for birds corresponds to an open and scrubby field and pasture landscape. With small-scale bogs, completely silted areas of sandy shoreline, extensive stands of gorse, a water lily pond, overgrown sand and clay pits, paths lined with pollarded willows and the dilapidated ring kiln of a former brickworks (now a bat roost), the area is extremely varied. In addition, shallow, narrow sandy beaches and a cliff up to 20 metres high with boulder clay and sands on the Strelasund and reedy shores on Lake Devin add to the varied character and unique natural features of the Devin Peninsula Nature Reserve. Accordingly, a species-rich avifauna is also to be expected on the peninsula.
Unfortunately, it must be noted that the Devin Peninsula is (also) affected by the serious decline in species diversity as well as the number of individuals of formerly common breeding bird species. While resident birds such as tits, crows, great spotted woodpeckers, nuthatches, treecreepers and wrens regularly occur with their usual frequency, the decline in summer birds is striking.
Field warbler, reed warbler, yellow warbler, red-backed shrike, oriole, tree sparrow - which members of the Friends' Association used to be able to list regularly in several breeding pairs - have now become a rarity. On the other hand, an increase in some bird species has been observed: e.g. carmine finch and several marsupial tits. All three native bunting species, skylarks, willow warblers and willow warblers currently find ideal breeding conditions in the Devin Peninsula Nature Reserve. This also applies to the 4 species of warbler: warbler, whitethroat, rattler and blackcap.
Of particular interest is the increase in the number of blackcaps, which can now be described as the most common warbler species. While the main mass of blackcaps used to migrate southwards and seek out the Mediterranean countries or North Africa as wintering grounds, a sub-population has always travelled westwards and wintered on the west coasts of England and Ireland. Fewer losses occur on this migration route (no crossing of the Alps, no bird hunting as in the countries bordering the Mediterranean). This population has therefore increased, arrives in the breeding area earlier on its return journey and can prioritise suitable territories. Some blackcaps are already overwintering here, so that they are regularly found at the winter feeding sites.
The shallow water areas and sandy hooks around the Devin peninsula are feeding and resting grounds for waterfowl. Especially in winter, large gatherings of coots, northern diving ducks and the three merganser species can be observed on ice-free water areas.
Due to the narrow beaches, constant monitoring by the red fox and, last but not least, visitor traffic (often with dogs), the Devin Peninsula nature reserve is probably less likely to be a breeding area for gulls, terns or waders. Only coots, moorhens and mallards can be mentioned as regular breeding birds.
Breeding is suspected for two pairs of shelducks, which are always found in the summer months both near the shore and on sandy embankments in the interior of the peninsula or when flying over the nature reserve. However, the shelducks have not yet been observed with young birds.
