Heligoland Bird Observatory

The principal research focus is on bird migration through banding studies.

In the early 19th century Heligoland also became a source of bird specimens for collectors and museums.

Ornithologist and artist Heinrich Gätke first visited the island in 1837 and moved there permanently in 1841 as secretary to the British Governor.

He began collecting specimens of rarities for both artistic and scientific purposes.

He spent most of the next 60 years studying the birds and coined the term "Vogelwarte", producing a book ("Die Vogelwarte Helgoland") on his research in 1891, with an English translation published in 1895.