Presentation on Nature Development in Amstelmeer

Forest ranger Roelf Hovinga from Landschap Noord-Holland presents recent nature developments in the Amstelmeer and the first results of the breeding season. The evening opens with Henk Schobben, coordinator of monthly goose and swan counts, sharing count results from autumn and winter collected by volunteers in the Wierhaven work area for Sovon Bird Research Netherlands.

In the nature reserve "De Verzakking" near Van Ewijcksluis, Landschap Noord-Holland has made significant interventions over recent years to make the area more suitable for wading and meadow birds. Breeding islands were restored, new mudflats created, and scrub and reed beds removed. A 'Breeding Fort' was also built - a structure with steel walls and a flat roof where coastal breeding birds can safely nest, out of reach of foxes and brown rats.

Roelf Hovinga was closely involved from the start and will explain the project during this evening. Henk Schobben's count work also shows how the breeding bird population responded to the changes in the area during this first breeding season.

Admission includes coffee/tea; non-members pay € 5.