Separated Alsterswans enduring winter
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Goodbye Alster, Hello Winter Quarters
The beloved Alster swans of Hamburg are switching up their winter routine this year. Unlike most birds that head south for winter, our feathery friends are bucking the trend. After spending summer by the Außenalster and adjacent waterways, these iconic swans return to their own chilly winter haven. But not the usual one.
This time around, the swans won't gather at a single location. Instead, there will be two separate residences for the approximately 80 swans.
The Great Relocation Plan
Since April 9th, the swans have been cruising the Alster. Guess what's new this year? More than 20 cygnet eggs have hatched in June alone. As the year-end approaches, it's time for the annual trek to their winter lair at the Eppendorfer Mühlenteich. "About 20 swans have already ventured out independently and are happily swimming around here," explains swan father Olaf Nieß to the German Press Agency.
This year, the Alster swans' relocation process is a bit different. Due to upcoming construction work at the Mühlenteich, only a portion of the 80 swans can overwinter there. The remaining ones will be moved by Nieß and his team to Wellingsbüttel. There, they'll find a hall with access to a swimming area.
"We'll be moving six to eight swans per day. The migration process will take a bit longer this time around," Nieß explains. Once settled in their new quarters, the swans will spend the next few months, safer from the looming avian flu threat. They'll return to their original grounds near the Alster in the spring.
A New Home Awaits
Soon, a new facility will be built at the Eppendorfer Mühlenteich for the famous Hamburg swans. These swans have a long-lasting tradition and are known as symbols of the city. The Alster swan care has been managed by a city institution, the Hamburg Schwanenwesen, since 1674. The leader for the swans is always the 'Schwanenvater'. Currently, that role is filled by Olaf Nieß, responsible for the swans' welfare.
By Lara Kitzinger
Lara Kitzinger, born in 1999, dreams of living in New York, but only for a brief spell. Her ultimate goal? Sankt Peter-Ording. She aspires to launch a local newspaper there by the North Sea. Her initial experiences with that were garnered through reporting on the best cafes in the district for the "Pinneberger Tageblatt". Despite not receiving any desserts during that assignment, Lara bakes her own sweets. She studied Communication and Media Management at the Fernuni IST, aside from writing film and TV reviews for Netzwelt.de. At home in Buchholz, Lara has a Holsteiner mare. She plans to ride her horse along the beach of Sankt Peter-Ording to work one day. Nickname: lak
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The swans' lifestyle might see a change as they adapt to their new home-and-garden, with two separate winter residences being prepared for them due to upcoming construction work. Pets like the Alster swans will spend the winter months in Wellingsbüttel and Eppendorfer Mühlenteich, before returning to their original grounds near the Alster in the spring.
