Captain protects swallows on the MS Feodora II: An unusual home.

Captain protects swallows on the MS Feodora II: An unusual home.

What drives a captain to turn his pleasure boat into a home for birds? An interesting story about house martins unfolds on the Flensburg Fjord, where Thomas Heitmann, the captain of the MS Feodora II, pursues his passion for birds. Heitmann, who took over the ship two and a half years ago, offers shelter to the local swallow colony. He has specially installed artificial nests under the canopy of his ship, which the birds are happy to accept, already in their third breeding season.

On his trips from Langballigau in the Schleswig-Flensburg district, Heitmann regularly has two dozen swallow chicks on board while their parents stay nearby. The house martins are sociable birds that impress with their shiny, metallic, dark blue plumage. They are known for catching insects in flight and live in colonies, making for a beautiful sight as they migrate across the fjord in swarms. House martins, orDelichon urbicum, are widespread not only in Europe, but also in parts of Asia and North Africa, but are increasingly having to fight to find suitable nesting sites.

A decline for various reasons

However, in recent decades the martin population has drastically reduced. Since the 1990s, the population has declined by around 50%, which can be attributed to various circumstances. A main cause is the death of insects, which reduces the breeding success of birds. In addition, demolitions and renovations of buildings have severely affected their natural nesting areas. New facades are often given a dirt-repellent coating that is too slippery for nesting. Heitmann is actively involved in helping the swallows by cleaning the nests by hand, but you can also do a lot yourself when it comes to building the nest: artificial nesting aids are a valuable support, as the provider Federhilfe explains.

The martins' natural nests, which consist of wet clay, stalks and feathers, are not only a beautiful natural spectacle, they are also under legal protection. Nests should be equipped with a droppings board to protect the environment and must be easy for birds to reach. It is recommended to install the nests in the first quarter of the year so that the swallows can move into them immediately in spring. If you would like to install a nesting aid yourself, you will find numerous construction instructions from NABU and BUND.

A heart for swallows

Heitmann's work is an excellent example of how individual effort can make a big difference. During the breeding season he returns to Langballigau every evening to look after the young swallows. The ship's crew usually spends six out of seven days on the fjord, which means that the chicks often have to go for hours without being fed by their parents. This shows how closely the protection of nature and simultaneous economic operations can be connected.

The number of house martins has increased over the last few years from 9 pairs in 2023 to 11 pairs in 2024, which now breed twice per season. Heitmann has a good knack for recognizing the needs of the swallows and gears his business accordingly. This is not just an individual decision, but a necessary step in the interests of species and nature conservation.

The house martin is not only a pleasant sight, but also an important part of our ecosystem. Their decline shows the importance of taking the right measures to help their population. Anyone who wants to work to protect swallows can take action themselves, for example by installing nesting boxes or designing bird-friendly gardens. After all, these little birds help us to preserve nature in all its diversity.

For more information about house martins and their conservation measures, visit NDR, Spring aid and BirdNature.