Birds all year round

The birds of the seaside meadow
All species of wading birds common to Danish seaside meadows breed in Vejlerne: the redshanks, the dunlin, the lapwing, the black-tailed godwit, the reeve, the avocet and the oyster catcher. These species are joined by large numbers of migratory birds in both spring and autumn. The 100 or so breeding dunlins are worthy of special mention, as they belong to the Baltic population of sandpipers, which is extremely threatened as it numbers fewer than 2,000 breeding pairs.


The dance of the ruff
With its distinctive breeding habits, the ruff is a popular bird at Vejlerne. It is often to be
seen on the Krapdiget dike to the west of Kraptårnet tower. Here, the males perform on
the dancing grounds, flapping their wings to attract females before stiffening up and falling
flat on their faces for the interested mates. Both the males and females may visit several
dancing grounds and only the strongest males are permitted to mate. After mating, the female may move on to other breeding areas to hatch the eggs and raise the chicks alone.

The reeds
It is best to experience the extensive areas of reeds at Vejlerne on quiet evenings in May and June. This is when the call of the bittern can be heard most clearly – the call resembles the
sound made by blowing into a bottle and carries for up to 5 km. At the same time the water
rail screams, and reed warblers, bearded tits, marsh warblers and spotted crakes all raise
their voices in song. Vejlerne is home to more than 200 bitterns, so the assembled booming
can become very loud. The Han Vejle hide provides a unique opportunity to cross the reeds on a walkway and then enjoy a packed lunch or evening coffee with the family. Children and adults lower their voices to a whisper while the birds potter around in the reeds. Under the narrow walkway swim shoals of roach, and you may even see a pike glide by like a shadow. You could also be lucky enough to get a close look at the beautiful and trusting bearded tit. This bird lives its entire life in the reeds and is therefore present all year round.

Autumn and winter
Ducks are the dominant species in the autumn, with spoonbills featuring throughout September. In 2005, the spoonbill population numbered 87. An increasing number of cranes have begun to gather at Bygholmengen, with more than 100 in the area in the middle of October. It is best to observe them from the Kraptårnet hide in the evening. Lapwings and herons are present in large numbers, and all types of ducks rest on the meadow in the autumn. The numbers of wigeons, greylag geese and teals are quite impressive – and as many as 300 garganeys have been noted in a single sighting! When peregrine falcons and merlins are in the area, the wading birds and ducks have little time to forage. Other birds of prey observed here include the marsh harrier and the osprey, and, later in the year, the hen harrier, the golden eagle and the white-tailed eagle.

In mild winters, the birds stay at Vejlerne for long periods, but when snow and ice set in they prefer warmer climes.