January 24: The Birds at the End of the World: Renewal and Remembrance in the German Borderland – Kerstin Lange
When the Berlin Wall fell under the pressure of peaceful protests thirty years ago, the 900-mile-long border that had separated the two German states also became obsolete. During the four decades that humans were kept out, this narrow strip of land became a refuge for more than 1,200 rare plant and animal species. We’ll hear the story of how a 13-year old ornithologist provided the first, crucial documentation of this remarkable biodiversity, and how birds formed the basis for an unusual cross-border friendship.
Between 2016 and 2018, writer and naturalist Kerstin Lange traced the former border by bicycle and on foot to investigate its human, ecological, and socio-political legacies. Kerstin will share the story of the border itself – its layers of history and its transformation into Germany’s longest, skinniest nature preserve – and reflect on the people she met on her expedition.
For upcoming lectures in the series, see https://northbranchnaturecenter.org/event/naturalist-journeys-2020-2/
