Before you see them, you hear them: the variety of birds along the Omerbach.

Here, forest meets water, and it is precisely this combination that creates an astonishing variety of bird species. Grey wagtails and dippers follow the course of the stream, while chaffinches, woodpeckers, and wrens can be heard in the trees. Even over the open meadows, buzzards and kites circle.

But this diversity needs space: old trees, clear streams, and undisturbed forest edges are the foundation that allows so many species to live here. The Omerbachtal Nature Reserve preserves this unique landscape—and maintains a habitat that changes repeatedly throughout the year. This creates a soundscape all its own in every season.

Tip: Listen closely. How many different voices can you distinguish? The concert is most impressive early in the morning.

This route was developed as part of the LEADER-funded project “Quality Initiative for Hiking in Roetgen and Stolberg” with support from the European Union (EAFRD) and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.