Birdwatching
15 places in Cologne
Baadenberger Senke, Stöckheimer See and Große Laache
since 2007A sprawling nature reserve of former gravel pits in Cologne's north-west – now a landscape of lakes, woodland and one of the most important amphibian spawning grounds west of the Rhine.
Chorbusch
since 2004Around 427 hectares of near-natural woodland on Cologne's north-western edge – a refuge for rare birds such as golden oriole and nightingale.
Am Ginsterpfad
since 1991A roughly 21-hectare nature reserve set in a former gravel pit between Weidenpesch, Longerich and Mauenheim — off-limits to protect its wildlife and viewable only from a single lookout point.
Am Godorfer Hafen
since 1991A 23-hectare nature reserve beside the Godorf harbour in southern Cologne — a grassland-and-scrub mosaic that grew out of an old gravel deposit and now shelters rare animals and plants.
Am Grünen Kuhweg
since 1991A restored former gravel pit on Cologne's northern edge in Flittard, protected as a nature reserve since 1991 — a species-rich habitat of open water, sandy dry grassland and rare plants and animals.
Naturschutzgebiet Am Hornpottweg
since 1983A former gravel pit on Cologne's north-eastern edge, a nature reserve since 1983 – a wetland habitat with over 200 bird species that can be viewed from a roughly 2 km circular trail.
Flittarder Rheinaue
since 1991A four-kilometre stretch of protected Rhine floodplain on Cologne's northern edge, rich in birdlife and criss-crossed by paths for walkers and cyclists.
Kiesgrube Wahn
since 1988A fenced-off Cologne nature reserve on a former gravel pit in Porz, home to species-rich wetland and aquatic habitats that may not be entered.
Kiesgruben Meschenich
since 1991A species-rich Cologne nature reserve on a former gravel pit on the southern edge of Meschenich, with excavation lakes, reed beds and valuable bare-ground habitats.
Kiesgruben Paulsmaar
since 1991A fenced-off Cologne nature reserve with three former gravel-pit lakes southeast of the city, leased to an angling club and closed to the public.
Naturschutzgebiet Königsforst
since 2000A large, unbroken protected woodland in Cologne's east, with old oak and beech forests, near-natural sandy streams and rare wildlife.
Langeler Auwald
since 1989A Cologne nature reserve along a Rhine river bend in the Langel district, with remnants of floodplain forest, a flood dyke and a breeding ground for numerous rare bird species.
Rheinaue Worringen-Langel
since 1991A nature reserve on the Rhine in northern Cologne, with floodplain forest, river meadows and a Glan-cattle grazing scheme, home to 93 bird species.
Naturschutzgebiet Thielenbruch und Thurner Wald
since 1969A wetland reserve on Cologne's north-eastern edge, home to the region's only surviving calcareous fen and a refuge for many rare species.
