With the Sulsdorfer Wiek and the areas in between, the NSG forms a complex of four ecosystems: the spit peninsula of the Krummsteert, the western part of the Orth Bay, salt marshes with brackish water ponds and the Sulsdorfer Wiek.
Northwest of the island of Fehmarn, surf waves are still removing the material that the southbound current has landed at the tip of the crooked codend. As a result, this spit hook, which is typical of the Baltic Sea coast, is still growing further into the Bay of Orth today. In the last 50 years, this growth has been approximately 900 meters. The natural dynamics of building and breaking forces is clearly shown in this piece of land in the sea, spared from technical fortifications.
The salt marshes in the northern part of the bay lead to the Sulsdorfer Wiek, a small sea bay that was dyked after the great storm surge of 1872 and used for pond farming until the 1970s.
The biocoenoses are as different as the location, origin and age of the components of this area. The beach of the crooked cod is directly exposed to the forces of the sea. The vegetation-free areas offer the endangered little tern Sterna albifrons suitable breeding grounds, and ringed plovers Charadrius hiaticula and oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus also breed in the area. Chickweed Honkenya peploides and sea mustard Cakile maritima also grow here, as well as several hundred specimens of sea holly Eryngium maritimum. Protected by rabbit burrows, shelducks Tadorna tadorna and Mergus serrator breed in the NSG.
The side of the peninsula facing Orther Reede runs out in tongues and bays into the flat coastal waters, whose muddy tidal flats occasionally dry up in strong westerly winds. This "wind tidal flat" offers the wading birds (limicoles) a richly laid table with a variety of marine bottom animals. The salt marshes, which are increasingly overgrown with reeds, are home to vegetation similar to the Krummsteert, e.g. the yellow-violet flowering sea aster.
Numerous amphibian species such as the green toad and natterjack toad Bufo viridis and Bufo calamita can be found in the shallow pools of the salt marsh areas of the entire nature reserve. Unfortunately, the very rare fire-bellied toad Bombina bombina is no longer found here. AmphiConsult in Copenhagen is trying to breed the last Fehmarn fire-bellied toads as part of the Bombina-LIFE project in order to be able to release them again.
The Sulsdorfer Wiek is framed by a wide reed belt. In addition to sedge and reed warblers Acrocephalus schoenebaenus, A. scirpaceus, reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus, water rail Rallus aquaticus and great bittern Botaurus stellaris, little Tachybaptus ruficollis, crested and red-necked grebes Podiceps cristatus, P. griseus, gray geese and ducks find numerous breeding opportunities in the area . At the time of low water levels in late summer, northern migratory birds such as golden plover Pluvialis apricaria, ruff Philomachus pugnax, greenshank Tringa nebularia and others find a rich pantry in the muddy pond bottom.
From the dyke in front of the Sulsdorfer Wiek (accessible via Orth harbour) you have a good view of the area. The dike path leads in a westerly direction on the edge of the protected area to the Baltic Sea coast. During the breeding season, the NSG is guarded by a nature conservation warden from NABU.
Address & Contact NABU Schleswig-Holstein Dyer Street 51 24534 Neumuenster
Here you can see many animals. Binoculars are an advantage. A nice area for hiking and close by is the Flügge lighthouse with a great cafe. Note opening hours.
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