Hiddensee Bird observatory

Hiddensee Bird Observatory is a research station on a car-free Baltic island dedicated to studying migratory birds and their routes. The facility includes observation towers, banding stations, and research areas where scientists track bird species, record arrival and departure times, and monitor population changes throughout the year.

The University of Greifswald founded this ornithological station in 1936 as one of the first systematic bird research centers in the region. Since then, it has grown into an internationally recognized facility whose long-term data has shaped our understanding of bird migration patterns across Europe.

The observatory serves as a learning hub where visitors can watch researchers at work and understand how bird migration shapes the island's identity. Local guides often share stories about species that return each season, making the scientific work feel connected to everyday island life.

Visitors reach the observatory by taking a ferry from the mainland, as the island is car-free. Once there, bicycles and walking paths make it easy to navigate the island and reach different observation areas.

The location sits directly on a major migration route where millions of birds pass each year, making it one of Europe's most valuable observation points. Researchers here have documented how bird populations shift in response to climate changes and habitat loss, providing irreplaceable data about birds across the continent.