Ringing birds memory lane

The expert were explaining how the important work of ringing birds and collecting data about bird migration and behavior was coordinated all over the world and my thoughts went back to Ertholmene… where I used to stay together with the bird-people

Ringing birds and painting and playing football

Text and drawing by Frits Ahlefeldt

I used to go late in the autumn to some tiny rock islands to pitch my tent, watch the stars at night and paint watercolors during the days. No tourists where there so late… just the bird people. So through the years I got to know them better and their passion for birds and important work ringing, collecting data and making observations while countless flocks of birds passed or rested on the Ertholmene islands

Even remember playing soccer in the afternoon with them on the small soccer field on Ertholmene, sheltered from the wind by huge granite walls. the bird people would run and play until a bird far out could be seen in the horizon, then they would all forget about the game and stare to see what it might be… I learned it was the best time to score goals…