In 1909, Jens Wand became Norderoog’s only summer resident and guarded its nesting terns for 41 years

In May 1909, Jens Sörensen Wand, whose surname appears in varying historical records as Wandt or Vand,became the first bird warden appointed by the Verein Jordsand on Norderoog, a tiny Hallig in Germany’s North Frisian Wadden Sea. The island was purchased the same year by the conservation organisation specifically to protect its seabirds, and for the next four decades, with interruptions, Wand spent the breeding seasons in a simple hut on the otherwise uninhabited island. His primary work included counting birds, recording population changes, and keeping egg collectors and other intruders away from the nesting colonies. According to Verein Jordsand, he continued this work until he died in 1950.

Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!