“The Frisian Islands-a stormy paradise” in the “Universe” portrait

The North and Frisian Islands along the German coast stretch perfectly together: from Sylt in the north on the border with Denmark to Borkum further west, at the Netherlands, in the middle of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Wadden Sea. The island chain includes twelve inhabited islands, ten regularly flooded Halligen, small march islands and some uninhabited islands. They are home and habitat, for example for seals and cone seals, for endangered and rare species, some of which find their last retreats here. The “Universe” documentary “The Frisian Islands-A Stormy Paradise” by Heike Grebe and Michael Riegler (ORF editing: Birgit Skulski) portrays Germany’s most dynamic region and its adaptable, animal inhabitants on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 8:15 p.m. in ORF 2 and on ORF on. The film was created as a co -production by ORF, NDR and Arte.

The East Frisian Islands were created by the interaction of wind, currents and tides. Unlike the North Frisian Islands, they resemble each other scenic: long beaches, extensive dune landscapes and extensive salt marshes. Lush habitats for tiny creatures, brave fighters such as the sand rain pipes who breed on the beach in the front line, and surprising visitors such as the hedgehog who came from the mainland to the islands. The East Frisian Islands are part of the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park. Nature conservation has a priority here – that feels the wildlife. Finding around 1,500 endangered species, for birds the island are a paradise. For migratory birds in spring and autumn, for breeding birds like the rare swamp ear owl. The often car -free islands offer originality and calm, protection against predators and the food supply of the Wadden Sea.

When a storm surge brings the North Sea to romp, it often hits the largest North Frisian island of Sylt with full force. Your west coast loses an average of one million cubic meters of sand per year. But not only storm surges keep changing the islands. The increasing warming of the North Sea also ensures “globalization under water”. This creates completely new communities, but the winners also produce losers. In addition – especially on the North Frisian Islands – there is the influence of humans. On the island of Föhr, agricultural use of soil has destroyed almost all breeding options for birds. The island of Amrum, on the other hand, has developed with its extensive nature conservation areas to the number one bird island in the north.

Life in the Frisian Islands requires primarily adaptability for their animal residents. Because these habitats are characterized by a rare dynamic. This is ensured by the forces of ebb and flood. Material that is washed away at one point is deposited again on another. This is how dunes, beaches or salt marshes – different habitats, develop together, but at the same time constantly changing. The only constant on the Frisian islands seems to be the change.