6th Session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the
Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA MOP6)

On Friday, some of the AEWA delegates met for a tour around the old city of Bonn, while others took part in an all-day field trip to two nature reserves in the Lower Rhine area, near the Dutch border.

During the field trip, the avid birdwatchers enjoyed a warm welcome at the Biological Station at Krickenbecker Seen. Two competent local guides accompanied them on a short hike to two adjacent lakes. Several AEWA species made an appearance, including mute swans, shovelers, red-crested pochards and Canada, Egyptian and greater white-fronted geese.

The second stop was Bislicher Insel, a reserve of riverside meadowlands near the city of Xanten. In this old loop of the meandering Rhine, the ancient regime of periodic river flooding is restored, roads and houses are removed, and the area is once again teaming with waterbirds. Here, too, delegates strolled around in the visitor center before heading out under the able guidance of the local ranger. They marveled at the sound and sight of several hundred greater white-fronted geese, which were grazing in the meadows and flying overhead in golden sunlight.

In the evening, delegates attended a reception with food and drinks at the Town Hall in central Bonn. They heard short addresses by Gabriele Klingmüller, Deputy Mayor of Bonn, AEWA Executive Secretary Jacques Trouvilliez and AEWA MOP6 Chair Fernando Spina.