The mysterious island of Trischen: speed and birdlife in focus!

The mysterious island of Trischen: speed and birdlife in focus!

A lot has changed in recent years on the picturesque North Sea island of Trisch, which is one of the fastest islands in the world with up to 35 meters per year. As moin.de reports, the human settlements on the small island have long been history. Trischen is now inhabited by a single bird warden who lives there from March to October and monitors the large population of seabirds.

Mareike Espenschied is currently responsible as bird warden. She lives in a hut on stilts that withstands the harsh conditions of the North Sea. Trisch has “no Wi-Fi connection” and is now a strictly protected nature reserve – uninhabitable, but still alive. Over 100 years ago, things were very different: Trisch was a popular destination for tourists to shoot seabirds, and the island had a thriving population with farming and sheep herds.

Prohibited arrival and loss of space

Travel to this unique island is now only permitted for the bird warden. A travel ban protects the seabirds' retreats from disturbance. However, the historical development is alarming: Trisch has lost around three quarters of its area to the North Sea in the last 100 years, as storm surges and shifting dunes are increasingly affecting the country.

“Travelbook” has dubbed Trischen the “fastest island in the world”. While this title may be a source of pride, it also sheds light on the challenges facing the island. The increasing erosion is clearly visible and is in line with climate change, which is also bringing significant changes in the North Sea. Helmholtz reports on the warming of the sea surfaces and the associated risks for the ecosystem.

Changes in the ecosystem

Rising water temperatures not only bring about changes in the biodiversity of marine life, but also increase the risk of vibrio infections, which can be particularly dangerous in the summer months. Climate change, as described by Dr. Insa Meinke, head of the North German Coastal and Climate Office, has the result that some native fish species are moving further north and invasive species are spreading.

This ensures increasingly dynamic biodiversity in the North Sea. The area around Trischen is closely monitored not only by passionate nature lovers, but also by scientists. One thing is clear: the loss and changes on Trisch are exemplary of the challenges that many coastal regions face due to climate change.

Trisch not only fascinates with its rapid movement, but is also a place of silence and nature conservation. The image of this unique island could soon change even more dramatically if current trends continue.

Where the island will develop remains to be seen. Preserving your biodiversity and its unique nature becomes a valuable heritage that needs to be protected, even if humans can no longer be part of this history.