A protected home to the country's largest Northern Gannets colony and a hotspot for bird-watching.
At Lummenfelsen nature reserve on Heligoland Island, you'll witness northern gannets building nests on limestone ledges in March, watch guillemot chicks make their dramatic first leaps into the North Sea in June, and see thousands of seabirds swooping around the 60-meter cliffs throughout spring and summer. Take a boat tour around the breeding colonies or observe the birds from three clifftop viewing platforms.
The Lummenfelsen reserve covers 1.1 hectares along Helgoland's western edge, making it Germany's smallest nature reserve. A 220-meter stretch of limestone cliffs rises 60 meters above the North Sea, with the distinctive Lange Anna sea stack standing 200 meters away. The reserve connects to the Helgoländer Felssockel marine protected area. Natural ledges in the red sandstone formations create ideal nesting spots for seabirds.
Five seabird species make these cliffs their only German breeding ground: northern gannets, black-legged kittiwakes, northern fulmars, razorbills, and common guillemots. Each spring, 4,800 pairs of kittiwakes and 2,500 pairs of guillemots return to nest. The breeding season runs from early March through October. You'll see northern gannets constructing nests in March, while guillemots arrive in April.
Every June, three-week-old guillemot chicks take their first plunge from the cliffs during the "Lummensprung." These young birds jump from heights up to 50 meters before they can fly. Their V-shaped ribs, air sacs, and dense plumage protect them during impact with the water. Parent birds accompany their young at sea until they become independent.
Three viewing platforms in Helgoland's Oberland area give you clear views of the bird colonies. While the cliff base remains off-limits to protect the birds, boat tours circle the island daily from March to October. Between April and August, join the Jordsand Association's naturalist-led tours to learn about seabird breeding cycles and behavior. The association has managed the reserve since 1980.
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