Crane Week Zingst

A Natural Spectacle on the Bodden Coast

The 'Crane Week' is an annual nature experience event organised by the NABU Experience Centre Kranichwelten, with the Baltic Sea spa town of Zingst as its venue. In September, during the autumn migration, up to 70,000 cranes stop over in the shallow Bodden lagoons – one of Europe's largest crane resting areas.

The 'Birds of Happiness'

The crane has always been considered the 'Bird of Happiness'. On their way to their wintering grounds, these large migratory birds rest in the Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft National Park. The shallow, undisturbed Bodden waters offer them safe roosting sites, and the surrounding fields provide ample food – ideal conditions for a resting period lasting several weeks.

Lectures, Excursions, and Observation Tours

The Crane Week programme includes lectures, exhibitions, and guided excursions to the roosting sites. Crane observation tours and carriage rides into the nature reserve bring visitors close to this natural spectacle. The highlight is the evening observation of the cranes flying in to roost, as thousands of birds head for their sleeping grounds in the last light of day. From September onwards, the shipping company Reederei Kranich also offers crane boat trips from Zingst harbour on the Zingster Strom.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Vorpommern-Rügen

Zingst is located on the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula in the Vorpommern-Rügen district, right in the middle of the Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft National Park. Crane Week combines nature conservation, environmental education, and an impressive experience for bird lovers from all over Germany.