Category: Germany 2023

Update from our Germany wolf volunteer project

Our second team of expeditioners completed their wolf surveys on Thursday with a thunderstorm. As days went by, everyone managed to perfect their navigational skills. No easy task when the printed map, GPS and reality do not always match. The teams enjoyed walking across different wolf habitats, ranging from pine forests, through heath areas, over sand dunes and deciduous forests. It is a special feeling to walk in a large carnivore’s footprints while documenting evidence on their presence and ecology on what we call wolf highways.

This team’s effort, patience and dedication paid off resulting in a wealth of valuable data, confirming the importance of citizen science to add to monitoring efforts – or in many cases being the only source of monitoring data:

Over two groups and weeks, we walked nearly 800 km in 8 wolf territories, resulting in a total of 217 documented scats of which 155 were frozen for dietary and 15 suitable for DNA analysis. Especially with the fresh samples, it is quite thrilling to realise that less than 24 hours ago, this top predator was in the same spot as you were. Even if we do not easily get to see the wolves, we wonder whether they might be looking at us from within their forest hideaways.

This Friday we said farewell to our second and last group of the year. I am sure we will all miss the acrobatic flights of the swift colony around our base, the evenings sharing field experiences and laughs. You were a wonderful team, we wish you safe travels and thank you for your dedication. A special thank you also to Susanne and Jannis of Naturcampus for hosting us and the canteen team of SOS Bockum for the vegetarian food to keep us going. We thank everyone for making this expedition a great success and we hope to see you again in the future.

Continue reading “Germany : It’s a wrap”

Update from our Germany wolf volunteer project

With our second team of expeditioners arrived the tropical weather. Temperatures exceeded 30 C, humidity levels increased and the night brought a thunderstorm. That clearly did not phase our newly arrived expeditioners, who were keen to get into action. After our usual pick-up in Bremen and guided tour in the Wolfcenter, we went into full training modus in our beautiful Bockum research base.

Sunday afternoon our try-out survey to test the newly acquired skills did not disappoint with no fewer than five recorded wolf scats. Wading in the stream Lopau on our return brought some well-deserved refreshment. Ending the day around the campfire with a nice drink allowed us to get to know each other better and exchange previous nature adventures.

Monday we headed out to two nearby wolf territories, Breitenhees and Susing, and split up into six teams. As tends to happen, some teams only managed to cover 4 km due to a high amount of wolf evidence that had to be documented and sampled in their assigned areas, while other teams did as much as 15 km, covering a much larger area, but with no indication of any recent wolf presence, which is equally relevant data. In any case, it is hard not to enjoy the beautiful forests, the other wildlife sightings (red deer, wild board, cranes, red kite and marten) and this in great company. Tomorrow half of the team heads up north to survey Amt Neuhaus and Göhrde, while the other half continues their investigations here.

Continue reading “Germany : Tropics”

Update from our Germany wolf volunteer project

Four days of surveying have gone by quickly. Over almost 400 km in eight different wolf territories, everyone has become very skilled at detecting and documenting wolf evidence in the field. This year we explored some new sites, unsure what we will find there. While in certain areas an impressive amount of data could be collected, in others no evidence of wolf presence was found. While this is obviously less satisfying after a long day of hiking and concentration, those zeros are equally important to gain insight into the current movements of known packs.

We enjoyed exploring different forest types and were treated to other sightings as well: a fox on the trail, a group of wild boar whizzing by, a startled stone marten, red kites and buzzard flying over, lots of roe deer and the more impressive red deer with their large antlers. And there were always dung beetles around to keep us amused.

Group 1 has found 123 wolf scats, of which 89 were collected. Of these, seven will be analysed by DNA sequencing to help confirm who left them. We also found two long wolf tracks and heard pups and adults howling in the distance. Our scientist Lotte even had a very brief sighting! As expeditioner Carine said, “walking in the wolves’ tracks and documenting their ways of life, gives you a deeper connection to the species.”

Group 1 finished on Friday. We thank all of them for being committed to the task, for the excellent team spirit and and the fun times. Safe travels back home and we look forward to welcoming group 2 in Bremen on Saturday.

Continue reading “Germany : Group 1 summary”

Update from our Germany wolf volunteer project

This group 1 is from Europe, US and Australia, all keen to take part in wolf monitoring. Half of them are ‘veteran’ expeditioners, already familiar with Biosphere and the other half are motivated nature lovers keen to invest their free time and energy in a holiday with a purpose, being wolf conservation.

Our first stop was the Wolfcenter, to learn about wolf biology and see our quarry in the flesh, something that is extremely unlikely on this indirect research expedition.

Our second stop was our new base at Bockum, a true green oasis of forests and meadows with lots of bird- and other wildlife around. Indeed the aread did not disappoint as we found no fewer than nine wolf scats in a 2.5 hour first training survey along only 5 km of forest paths, which must be a record! It makes base even more special realising wolves passed by so close by.

But before that first training survey there was lots of intensive, crash course instruction on everything wolf and how to research them through signs. After 1.5 days the team by Sunday afternoon was fully trained and ready to start the full-day monitoring surveys.

Stay tuned for updates to see what we will find on our paths!

Continue reading “Germany : Trained”

Update from our Germany wolf volunteer project

We’ve arrived at our new Bockum base and it’s beautiful. Thank you to Peter for finding it.

The advance party comprises An (expedition leader), Pat (A* expeditioner), Peter (scientist) and Matthias (we’re not sure and just for the day).

It’s overcast and muggy with a mixed outlook for the next few days.

So here we are unpacking, preparing, printing, sorting, organising and generally doing all the things that are needed to make an expedition a success. From Saturday, we are expecting you to pull your weight 😉

Continue reading “Germany : At Bockum”

Update from our Germany wolf volunteer project

We are approaching the start of the 2023 Germany wolf expedition and I am getting into expedition mode. My name is An and I will be your expedition leader for this fifth edition of the Biosphere Expeditions wolf monitoring programme in Lower Saxony.

I just read the report with the 2020/2022 expeditions’ results (you should make sure you read at least the abstract of the 2020/2022 report; it’s a good idea to also read the 2022 diary, or at least the round-up). It’s truly motivating to see what a great boost and relevant contribution the Biosphere Expeditions teams make to the annual state monitoring efforts on the wolf populations. Not just in terms of quantity, but also great quality of data. I am certain this year’s teams will be no different and live up to the challenge. No to worry, the 1.5 days of intense training will equip you with all the knowledge and skills you need to get out in the field.

As for me, I have almost finished packing up my gear and am getting ready to go. Tomorrow morning I will get a lift from Pat, a wolf expeditioner of the first hour. We leave from Belgium and will make our way up to Bockum and our new expedition base. There we will meet our host Suzanne and our Executive Director Matthias, who will help set up in the coming days. It will also be great to be reunited with our expedition scientists, Peter and Lotte, our wolf experts, who have been busy preparing.

The weather forecast looks good with temperatures around 20°C for the first few days. Make sure to pack clothing for all weather conditions and foresee at least 2 liters of water a day to stay hydrated. Lots more relevant tips you can find in the packing list in your dossier. Make sure you read it before you depart.

I wish you safe travels and look forward meeting our first group of expeditioners on Saturday 1st July here.

An

Continue reading “Germany : Countdown to Saturday”