After a nine-month journey, the Black-tailed Godwit ‘Werner’ has returned to his breeding grounds at the Lower Elbe. Last year the bird was ringed by staff of the NLWKN Nature Conservation Station Unterelbe. ‘Werner’ arrived back at the breeding grounds on 24 March 2025 (see this blog entry for further details on his journey).
‘Werner’ is now defending his old breeding territory with a female Black-tailed Godwit. The home range that ‘Werner’ hardly ever leaves covers an area of only 7 hectares. It includes areas both behind and in front of the dyke, and from time to time the bird also searches for food on the mudflats at the nearby river mouth when the tide is low.
The staff of the Nature Conservation Station Unterelbe were able to find the clutch of ‘Werner’ and ringed his three chicks on 16 June. The chicks were in a good condition, raising hopes that the breeding population of Black-tailed Godwits at the Lower Elbe area will continue to increase in the coming years.
