Eppendorfer Mühlenteich – Winter Home of the Alster Swans

The history of the Alster swans is a very special one 😏

Swans helped the Eppendorf mill pond to become somewhat famous,
because this is where the Hamburg Alster swans winter quarters are located.
It was created by damming the Tarpenbek, just before it flows into the Alster
and was once used to power the mill.
Today, a separate area of the mill pond is kept ice-free every winter by a circulation pump so that the birds can spend the time here until spring. Every year in November, the approximately 200 animals are relocated by boat and return to the Alster the same way in March.
The popular Alster swans have been a symbol of the city of Hamburg for more than 400 years. An invoice from 1591/92 shows that even then, mute swans on the Alster were fed grain feed at public expense. Since 1818, they have been looked after by a so-called "swan father" paid by the city. hamburg.de/parkanlagen/3060372/hayns-park

The Tarpenbek was dammed to form this pond before it flows into the Alster.Today, no mill is moved by the water. Several paths lead along the long shoreline, past meadows with waterfowl, trees and shrubs.The Hamburg Alster swans, which are brought here by boat every year before the first frost, spend the winter on this body of water. The date at the end of October is set at short notice. In years with mild weather, the boat tour can also take place in November.The Haynspark on the Alster is located on the opposite side. Many grey geese have found their territory in this area.laurustico.de/index.php/hh-gruen/520-eppendorfer-muehlenteich