Lasse-Marc Riek

Wildlife Sound Recordings from the Island of Helgoland, Germany (2010-2013)

Germany's only sea island is a unique place in many ways. Situated 70 kilometres from the coast, it belonged to Great Britain for 90 years in the 19th century. During the Second World War, the first facilities for a huge naval base were built. The tunnels and bunkers were demolished in 1947. In the following years the island was used as a training ground for British bombers.

 It is not known how the birds survived this period of destruction. But when people returned to the devastated island in 1952, they too found it quieter. Since then, more than 370 different species have been counted, although only a few actually breed on the island. Despite this, Helgoland is one of the most densely populated places in Europe. It is also the only place in Germany where sea birds such as the common murre, northern gannet, northern fulmar, razorbill and black-legged kittiwake live.

Today, ornithologists can access the cliffs and caves, where thousands of birds breed, directly through the old tunnels. Lasse-Marc Riek was allowed to use these tracks to ...(Stefan Militzer)

With the kind support of Frank Gutzke/Verein Jordsand zum Schutze der Seevögel und der Natur e.V.

A release called Helgoland was published by Gruenrekorder.

Lasse-Marc Riek talks about Helgoland PRAKSIS OSLO, Presents Issue 3