Prof. Jürgen Kühnis in the State Museum | Photo: Gregor Meier
The Liechtenstein State Museum was the venue for an entertaining and educational evening: Jürgen Kühnislecturer at the Schwyz University of Education in Goldau, took the audience on a photographic journey through the flora and fauna of the Haberfeld in Vaduz.
The nature and recreation area, created in 1973, is known to many as a popular local recreation area. However, their ecological significance often remains hidden. The almost one-hectare area on the edge of the settlement is home to an astonishing faunal diversity – favored by varied water and land habitats and the adjacent, renatured Giessen.
Interactive lecture with surprise effects
Peter Niederknocker, responsible for the natural history collection in the State Museum and a long-time companion of the speaker, introduced the evening with personal words. He described how Kühnis not only explores nature, but also lives it – a passion that ran through the entire lecture.
Kühnis knew how to actively involve the audience. With targeted questions and so-called cognitive activations, he invited those present to rediscover familiar animal species. Who is the only European woodpecker that eats almost exclusively ants and has the longest bird tongue in Europe? How do you distinguish between winter and summer goldcrests, the smallest birds in Europe? And which animal deserves the nickname “reed pig”?
Kühnis provided the answers – green woodpecker, goldcrest pair and spotted crake – with numerous impressive photos and clear explanations. His tip about the kingfisher was particularly popular: Males and females can be distinguished by their beak – the female is wearing lipstick, so to speak, because her lower beak is reddish in color.
The book by Georg Jäger, who has meticulously documented the wildlife of the Haberfeld over the years, served as the photographic basis for the lecture.
The lecture is in connection with the current exhibition “Natural Anniversary Haberfeld” in the Liechtenstein State Museum, which can be visited until August 23rd. Anyone who would like to experience Haberfeld directly on site has the opportunity to do so on Saturday, May 9th: Georg Willi and Georg Jäger invite you to a guided excursion.
