Urban Birding Köln

What is Urban Birding? Birdwatching—or “birding,” as it’s called in English—right in the heart of the city—that’s Urban Birding. The idea: Even in everyday city life, there’s an astonishing variety of birds that many people barely notice as they go about their day. birdingtours is a tour operator that offers guided tours for birdwatchers—ranging from one-day city excursions to trips around the world.

The Tour in Cologne The day tour is designed for both beginners in birdwatching and experienced amateur ornithologists. It takes you right through the heart of Cologne and shows just how diverse the bird life of a metropolis can be: from Cologne Cathedral through the Old Town and the Rhine promenade to parks, bridges, and the Rhine itself as a habitat.

What makes Cologne special? Cologne is not only a cathedral city and a carnival stronghold, but also an exciting urban habitat for birds. The cathedral and historic buildings provide suitable nesting sites for building-nesting birds such as the kestrel and peregrine falcon. Along the Rhine, you can spot cormorants, gray herons, gulls, and—with a little luck—river sandpipers. The city’s old trees are also home to collared parakeets, which have spread throughout Cologne since the 1970s.

What’s the itinerary for the day? We’ll meet at 8:00 a.m. at Cologne Cathedral. First, we’ll walk around the cathedral, keeping an eye out for kestrels and, with a bit of luck, peregrine falcons as well. Afterward, the tour heads to the Rhine promenade, past the Old Town and on toward the Rheinauhafen. There, you may spot species such as the Egyptian goose, great crested grebe, cormorant, or gray heron. We’ll cross the Severinsbrücke to the other side of the Rhine, where you can observe large gulls, park birds like the green woodpecker and nuthatch, as well as various thrush species depending on the season. Along the Rhine promenade in Deutz and on the Hohenzollern Bridge, the view over the city and the river opens up once again—offering chances to spot gulls, common sandpipers, or circling birds of prey such as buzzards or sparrowhawks. The tour ends around 12:00 p.m. back at Domplatz in front of Cologne Cathedral.

Practical Information The day tour costs €49; for groups of 5 or more participants, there is an additional charge of €20 per person. A professional, German-speaking tour guide with local expertise is included. Also included are a species list and a tour report. Meals, personal expenses, tips, travel to and from the tour, and any public transportation costs are not included. The following equipment is recommended for the tour: sturdy, comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, sunscreen if necessary, binoculars, a spotting scope if available, a daypack with drinks and snacks or a packed lunch, and a field guide—we recommend “Der neue Kosmos Vogelführer” by Svensson et al. or “Was fliegt denn da?” by Barthel/Dougalis, both published by Kosmos-Verlag.

Pricing Information:
The day tour costs 49 €. Surcharge for groups of 5 or more participants: + 20 € per person.