Experience Nature - Coastal Birds - Miniature Sheet

A significant number of the birds that breed in the Netherlands nest in the dunes and coastal areas of our country. There, you will also find bird species that occur almost nowhere else in the Netherlands. Our country's long coastline stretches from the dunes right along the sea, open dunes, salt marshes and marshes to shrubs and forests in the inner edge of the dunes. The agricultural landscape adjacent to these natural biotopes, such as the polders on the islands, is also part of the habitat of our dune and coastal birds. The coasts are amongst the most abundant bird habitats in our country, especially during periods of bird migration. Many birds follow the coastline to orientate themselves when they fly north or south. For many coastal birds, the Wadden area and the Zeeland delta are a crucial link in the East Atlantic migratory route, which runs from north-east Canada and Central Siberia to the very southern point of Africa. The coast is also a great area for foraging. Especially in shallow seas such as the Wadden Sea, which is partly dry at low tide, plenty of food is available. For the birdwatcher it is a challenging environment because the distance to the birds tends to be quite far. However, to recognize the various species it is often sufficient to know the bird's silhouette or its behavioral pattern.