Elmar Ballstaedt

Born in 1987, I have been dealing with bird observation from the age of ten.

In 2011, I started my studies of “Umweltnaturwissenschaften/Environmental Sciences” in Freiburg im Breisgau. Subsequently, I successfully completed the master’s programme “Umweltwissenschaften / Environmental Sciences” with focus on ornithology at the same university.

I first came to Helgoland during my mandatory internship at the Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Heligoland "(ornithological station Heligoland) in the course of the master’s programme. Here, I became acquainted with many members of the Institut of Avian Research, which eventually was the cause for me writing my master’s thesis on bird migration at the "Vogelwarte Heligoland" [ornithological station Heligoland].

In 2017, after having finished my studies, I worked as a graduate assistant to the same project in the scope of which my master’s thesis had been comprised. 

Since 2018, I have been working for Verein Jordsand e. V. on Heligoland, and I am now responsible for the ornithological supervision of the nature reserves as well as for finances.

In January 2019, I started writing my PhD thesis within the scope of the here presented project in addition to my working as ornithological supervisor of nature reserves.