Photo of the Day
A man holding an antenna up on an island.
May 1, 2026 | Signaling the Birds
Marker Wadden has become a haven for countless birds and fish ever since the archipelago was created between 2016 and 2021 out of sand, clay, and sludge dredged from the bottom of Lake Markermeer in the Netherlands. The string of artificial islands are expected to help improve the water quality of the lake as well as serve as much-needed wildlife habitat. Researchers Jan van der Winden and Camilla Dreef want to know how birds use the islands as breeding, resting, and foraging grounds. Here, in this image from the June 2025 issue of NGM Netherlands, volunteer Maarten Hotting installs an antenna that picks up the signal from tagged birds that frequent the area, such as avocets, spoonbills, and terns.
