Bird Protection Island Minsener Oog – an ornithological mudflat hike with the WWF

Join the national park bird guide Joke Pouliart on this mudflat hike to the bird protection island Minsener Oog. The island, like Mellum, is an important bird sanctuary in the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park. On this tour, you will experience a unique, wild, and protected natural landscape. Even during the hike, we will observe birds searching for food and hope to see terns diving into the watercourses, hoping for success in catching fish. Due to its seclusion and tranquility, rare species of terns and other birds have made the island their home. To ensure their protection, a bird warden spends the entire summer on the island. We are also allowed to enter a small beach area at the edge of the protected quiet zone for our break, and the volunteers from Mellumrat e.V. will tell us about their work.

Knowledge transfer:
- Foraging migratory birds on the East Atlantic flyway
- Breeding birds in the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea
- Research projects on migratory birds
- Impact of avian influenza 2022 on terns
- Climate change and its effects on the Wadden Sea and local birdlife
- Predation of breeding coastal birds
- Successes and challenges in Wadden Sea and bird protection

Organizational details:
Meeting point: Parking lot Camping / Beach Schillig; transition to the beach below the restaurant 8° East
GPS coordinates: 8.027618 / 53.700321
The tour ends at the starting point.
Duration: The tour lasts about 4 1/2 hours.
Distance: 11 kilometers
Hiking profile / requirements for participants: Participation is possible from age 8. This is a sporty hiking tour. Good fitness is a prerequisite for participation. This mudflat hike is not suitable for people with mobility restrictions. In the channels to be crossed, the water can be knee-deep—sometimes even up to the buttocks.

Equipment: Participation in the summer season is only possible in beach shoes or securely laced sneakers. For winter tours, please contact the organizer. Dress appropriately for the weather: sun hat, sunscreen, wind- and waterproof clothing.