where have all the songbirds gone?
DESCRIPTION
In the North Sea, about 70 kilometres from the German coastline, lies Heligoland. The small Island spans a mere 1.7 km in diameter, with only 1200 inhabitants. Because of the island's remote location, the choice to leave it behind is never taken lightly. As a breeding ground of close to 400 bird species, the island was the first place on earth to be the focus of systematic studies on bird migration. The combination between the island's location and weather conditions causes significant variations in local bird population throughout the year. The book 'Where have all the songbirds gone?' explores the contrasts and similarities between the migratory people and birds of Heligoland. Pocket Book, 140 x 185mm, 64 pages Edition of 30TRANSCRIPT
Where have all the songbirds gone?
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Migration is popular amongst those who can travel across long distances. They survive by leaving the area for part of the year or part of their life, and move to habitats that are more hospitable.
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Origins from ringed birds recovered on Heligoland
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All recovery sites of birds ringed on Heligoland
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291.5 km
54° 10’57” N7° 53’10” E
51° 35’38” N7° 12’29” E
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Navigation is complicated because they must know their current location, their destination and the direction they must take to get there.
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146.1 km
54° 10’57” N7° 53’10” E
54° 19’24” N10° 7’22” E
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Some monitor the Earth’s magnetic field using their visual system and with tiny grains of a iron-containing mineral called magnetite in their heads, that might act like a compass.
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132.6 km
54° 10’57” N7° 53’10” E
53° 10’53” N8° 59’11” E
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Colophon
Photography & Design:Maarten Boswijk
Edition:30
Thanks to:Jim, Olli, Peer, Gert, Annika, and everyone on Heligoland who has helped me during my stay. Neeltje, Bram, Koen, Robert and Jasper for being wonderful classmates. Sara Blokland, Jan Adriaans, Petra Stavast, Rob Philip, Vesselina Nikolaeva, Léon Wijnhoud, Elies Thijs.
© 2012
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