Thinking outside the box: The Zwillbrocker Venn

Sun on your face, binoculars at the ready – and suddenly a touch of Italy. Or Africa. And all this in the heart of North Rhine-Westphalia! 
For in the Zwillbrocker Venn, pink wading birds dance across the water, stand elegantly on one leg, or silently glide through the air. Flamingos! And not just any flamingos: This is home to the world's northernmost breeding colony of these fascinating birds.

Around 70 flamingos currently belong to the Zwillbrock group. They breed here, remain faithful throughout the summer – and only make a brief foray into the Rhine Delta during the winter. How did they end up here of all places? The story begins about 35 years ago: Initially, individual birds appeared, having escaped from zoos or private owners. But what started as a coincidence became a permanent presence – and eventually a stable, self-sustaining population.

The reason flamingos feel so at home in the Zwillbrocker Venn is due to a second main attraction of the nature reserve: the black-headed gull colony. It's the most important in all of Germany. The gulls were initially attracted by a large, shallow lake – and with their droppings, they promptly transformed it into a perfect food source for flamingos. It sounds unusual, but it works brilliantly. Nature can be quite clever, after all.