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Fisherman Sebastian Hölch from Riederau managed to take a photo of the young sea eagle.
© Hölch
A sea eagle winters for the first time on the southern shore of Lake Ammersee.
He has been there for around three months and is bringing joy to bird lovers.
District
- It is the largest eagle species in Germany: the sea eagle, up to 92 centimeters tall with a wingspan of almost two and a half meters.
“These are absolutely impressive animals, whereas a golden eagle is really delicate,” says Landsberg hobby birdwatcher Peter Weibl, who, like many bird lovers, is delighted that one of the majestic animals is wintering on Lake Ammersee for the first time – and will perhaps stay there.
“This young sea eagle has been at Lake Ammersee for around three months,” says Weibl.
The fact that it is still young can be seen primarily by its head: in the adult bird of prey, it is much brighter.
And the tail also turns white with age.
The eagle is usually on the south bank because the shy animal finds more peace there, says Weibl.
“But it has also been spotted on the Lech.” Individual sea eagles rarely come to the foothill lakes to overwinter before they move further north to breed in March.
In 2023, 32 pairs of sea eagles were registered across Bavaria
Weibl knows of a few animals on Lake Chiemsee.
“Here at Ammersee it is the first,” says Claudia Thornton from the Landsberg State Association for Bird and Nature Conservation (LBV).
Things are different in Upper Palatinate, Franconia or Lower Bavaria, says Weibl.
He knows of breeding pairs, for example, in the Franconian Lake District area or at the Grafenwöhr military training area.
A few years ago, a pair of sea eagles tried to breed on Lake Chiemsee.
“But unfortunately they have left their nest again,” says Weibl.
“The many people must have bothered them.”
Wolfgang Nerb is a nature conservation officer and coordinator for eagle projects for the government of the Upper Palatinate - the district that is home to the most sea eagles in Bavaria.
He has current population figures: “In 2023 there were 32 pairs of sea eagles in Bavaria, one or two of them in Upper Bavaria.” There are far more animals in northern Germany, especially in the Mecklenburg Lake District area: According to the environmental protection organization WWF, around 970 pairs of sea eagles currently live in Germany.
The sea eagle's diet also includes waterfowl
Things were different in the late 1970s, reports Weibl: “When I was still young, the sea eagle was practically extinct in Germany.” The reason for this was the pesticide DDT, which was permitted until 1972 – in the GDR until 1984 – and which contained the shells of the Eggs were so soft that the young died.
“Some crazy people even stole the young birds,” says Weibl.
At that time, the sea eagle was placed under strict protection - whereupon the number in northern Germany increased significantly again.
Sea eagles lay their eggs from mid-February to the end of March.
To do this, this specimen would have to find a partner - to whom he or she will then be faithful until the end of his life.
The peak of courtship is February.
“And because it is still a young animal, it could well be that it is now looking for its territory on Lake Ammersee,” says Weibl.
The conditions on the south bank are ideal for this: “This is an area rich in fish, there is still quite a lot of riverside landscape and the Lech is not far either.” Because the bird of prey’s diet also includes waterfowl: “It can’t manage a swan,” says Weibl , but like a coot or a duck.
The sea eagle is not picky: “They eat everything they can get” – including carrion and fish remains that the cormorants drop.
Catching fish is rather strenuous for the large sea eagle.
The animal is no competition for fishing, for example because, according to NABU (Nature Conservation Association of Germany), it specializes in bream, which is despised by humans.
“The sea eagle also eats much less fish than a cormorant.
And there are far fewer of them,” says Weibl.
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In order for the shy sea eagle to actually settle down on Lake Ammersee, it must not be disturbed.
Another reason for his stay on the south bank, in the nature reserve “Bird Sanctuary Ammersee-Südufer”.
“But the canoeists and SUPers are also problematic there,” says Weibl.
“Or if as many tourists come there as at Chiemsee, it will be gone again.” Weibl is certain that it’s not just birdwatchers who would regret this: “These are such beautiful animals.
And it would be so great if they could be seen regularly here in southern Bavaria again.”
Sabine Greiner