Just half a year ago, we asked whether we would manage, together, to bring out a second East Atlantic Flyway book in 2026. Today, we can say: Yes – we made it!

 

 

An extraordinary team of 50 authors has completed 30 chapters, illustrated with hundreds of excellent photographs and other images. All texts and images for the German edition have now been delivered to Aula Verlag, where the book is entering the next stage of editing, design and production. If everything goes according to plan, the German edition should be published this autumn.

 

 

The new book is the twin volume to The East Atlantic Flyway of Coastal Birds – 50 Years of Exciting Moments in Nature Conservation and Research. While the first book looked back at experiences, research and conservation achievements, this second volume focuses on perspectives and visions for the future of the Flyway.

 

On the island of Hallig Langeneß, the book project was launched.  Photo: Martin Stock

 

The chapters take us along the entire Flyway – from the Wadden Sea and the coasts of the UK, France and Portugal, through Morocco, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa and Namibia, to the Baltic Sea, Norway, Svalbard, Iceland, Greenland and the Russian Arctic. They address subjects ranging from the biology and global significance of mudflats and the future of individual shorebird species to sea-level rise, climate-friendly coastal protection, marine protected areas, no-take zones and conflict resolution. The book concludes with a broader outlook and a look at the relationship between the East Atlantic and East Asian–Australasian Flyways. 

 

The project has brought together a remarkable diversity of experiences from across the Flyway. Scientists, conservationists, protected-area experts and others have contributed their knowledge, perspectives and visions – creating a book that is not only about coastal birds, but also about the future of the coastal ecosystems on which they depend.

 

After the German edition at Aula Verlag, an English edition will follow with Lynx Nature Books, making the perspectives and visions gathered in this book accessible to a much wider international audience.

 

Flagship birds of the Flayway: brent geese and waders.  Photo:  Knud Pfeifer

 

Six months ago, this was still an ambitious idea. Now the manuscript and images are with the publisher.

 

50 authors. 30 chapters. Hundreds of images. One East Atlantic Flyway – and a shared vision for its future.

 

The journey continues!