HELIGOLAND

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 9 January 1925, Page 5

HELIGOLAND

NOW A BIRD SANCTUARY. The island of Heligoland, off the coast of Northern Germany, once a Gibraltar of the North Sea and the base .of raiding U-boats, is now a peaceable rookery for migrating birds. Prof. T. G. Ahrens, of Berlin, told the members of the American Ornithologists’ Union, in session at Pittsburg, Pennsylvaunia, of the studies on birds which was carried on there under the auspices of the Prussian Government Even during the times when the island was a fortress, it was a ..station for the migrating flocks of birds, and bird studies of considerable importance were pursued there. After the armistice, when according to treaty, the fortification works had to he co-in-pltely destroyed, ihe studies were seriously interfered with; hut now they have been resumed under more .favourable circumstances. The island is of greatest importance as u resting place for birds on long flights. Only three species nest there, and these are of minor significance botli scientifically and economically. But as a temporary abiding place of ducks, geese, gulls and other water birds, the island is of immense importance. One phase of' the work there consists of bandaging the legs of birds with identification tags, so that their subsequent appearance in other parts of the world will tell of*their travel routes and rates of flight. The great lighthouse on the island was former!v_ the cause of the death of many birds, which were attracted bv the dazzling beams, and would da=li themselves against the tower. This condition remedied bv placing secondary lights about the tower to clay upon it and render it visible to the birds, who are thus warned npd enabled to avoid striking it.