Guide · Germany · Autumn
At sunset the sky and the fields fill with trumpeting calls. Thousands of cranes arrive in long ribbons to spend the night together in shallow water. In autumn, 200,000 to 300,000 cranes rest in Germany on their way south. This guide tells you where and when to see the spectacle at its best.
When do the cranes migrate?
The first cranes gather as early as late August, but the big numbers only arrive in October. As soon as there is an easterly wind behind them, usually from mid-October, they leave in large groups for the south-west, towards France and Spain. They pass through again in spring, in March, but then in less concentrated numbers.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Late August – September | The first groups gather at the resting sites |
| October | Peak: tens of thousands of birds per resting site |
| Mid-October – November | Departure to the south, especially with an easterly wind |
| March | Return to the breeding grounds |
The best places
- Rügen and the Vorpommersche Boddenküste (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania): one of the largest resting areas in Europe. The Kranich-Informationszentrum in Groß Mohrdorf is a good starting point, with information and tips on viewing spots.
- Linum and the Rhin-Havelluch (Brandenburg): about an hour’s drive from Berlin, with 60,000 to 70,000 cranes in peak years. The fish ponds at Linum are the best-known roost.
- The Diepholzer Moorniederung (Lower Saxony): the closest option if you come from the Netherlands or Belgium, a few hours’ drive from the Dutch border.
Tip: many resting areas have fixed viewing points and guided evening excursions. Check the website of the area or of NABU for current counts, so you know where most of the birds are.
Tips for your visit
| Best time | The hour before and after sunset, when the birds fly to the roost; or at sunrise, when they leave |
| Distance | Stay 250 to 300 metres from the birds, and don’t get out of the car right next to a group in a field |
| Bring | Binoculars or a telescope, warm clothes and a thermos flask |
| Behaviour | Use the fixed viewing points and don’t walk into the fields |
During the day the cranes feed on harvested maize and cereal fields in the area. If you drive past, stay in the car: it works as a hide. With some luck you will also see a white-tailed eagle hunting over the water in the same areas.
Bird flu and drought. In autumn 2025 an estimated 40,000 cranes died of bird flu on the western migration route, including at Linum. Dry summers are also hard on the breeding birds. If you find a dead or sick bird, don’t touch it and report it to the local authority or veterinary service. Keep your dog on a lead.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about crane watching
When can you see the most cranes in Germany?
In October. Tens of thousands of birds then rest at the large resting sites, before leaving for the south from mid-October.
Where can you see cranes closest to the Netherlands?
In the Diepholzer Moorniederung in Lower Saxony, a few hours’ drive from the Dutch border.
What time should you go?
Around sunset, when the birds fly to their roost, or early in the morning, when they leave.
How close can you get?
Keep 250 to 300 metres away. Cranes are shy, and a startled group loses energy it needs for migration.
Habitat · Germany
