Graureiherkolonie bei Harsewinkel, Nature reserve in Harsewinkel, Germany
The Graureiherkolonie reserve spans 4.1 hectares of mixed pine forest and oak woodland near the Ems River, providing nesting sites for grey herons.
The protected area gained official recognition in 2007, though the first grey heron nests appeared in the early 1970s within this section of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The reserve exemplifies German environmental protection standards through its IUCN Category IV designation, focusing on habitat and species management.
Visitors can observe over 20 grey heron nests from February through July, when adult birds return to breed and raise their young.
A natural pond created twenty years ago within the reserve serves as a primary feeding ground for the resident grey heron population.
Location: Harsewinkel
Inception: 2007
GPS coordinates: 51.96160,8.16769
Latest update: March 4, 2025 08:51
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