Thousands of beehives housed in a state library's premises, in a unique beekeeping initiative.
Birds Took Over: A Tale of Oskar & His Wives at the Unter den Linden Library
It's a chorus of chirps and tweets echoing through the Staatsbibliothek Unter den Linden. This storied library has been invaded, so to speak, by avian visitors.
Since 1980, the Stabi has protected the estate of the legendary zoo director, Oskar Heinroth (1871-1945), who shared an extraordinary hobby with his wives, Magdalena (1883-1932) and Katharina (1897-1989): an unyielding fascination with birds, even living among them.
A captivating exhibit titled "The Bird WG. The Heinroths, their 1000 birds, and the beginnings of behavioral research" at the Kulturwerk of the Stabi reveals their compelling story. Initially, the zoologist Oskar and the taxidermist Magdalena dwelled in Halensee. As Karl Schulze-Hagen puts it, an ornithologist and one of the curators of the lovingly crafted show, "It was standard WG living - the neighbors couldn't stand the stench, particularly the racket!"
Speaking of which, the raven and the wattled crane were deafening at night. The ravens, Jasper and Ralf, and the sea eagle Günther weren't birds to trifle with either. Günther shared his nest with a marsh harrier and a ring-necked dove. You may wonder who reigned supreme: drumroll, the dove!
250 bird species, from the tiniest Zaunkönig to the towering sea eagle, resided with the Heinroths at first in Halensee and later in their apartment in the Zoo-Aquarium.
Zoo Insanity: The Bird-loving Director's Allergy
Here's the peculiar thing: the zoo director himself was allergic to bird feathers and had to doze off each night with an oxygen tank.
Following Magdalena's demise, Katharina took over the bird-filled WG. Yet, she gradually coaxed the birds out, one by one, alleviating her husband's allergy. Only a rooftop dovecote remained, and there, the daily zoo walks with the cranes.
Bird specimens from the Natural History Museum complement the exhibition, alongside films shot by the Heinroths. One flick shows a cunning cuckoo booting its step-siblings out of the nest.
June 13 - September 14, Unter den Linden 8, Wed-Sun 10-18, Thu 10-20, Free admission
- Despite his excessive love for birds and sharing a home with 250 species, Oskar Heinroth suffered from an allergy to bird feathers, forcing him to sleep with an oxygen tank each night.
- After Magdalena's death, Katharina gradually coaxed the birds out of their shared dwelling, alleviating her husband's allergy, leaving only a rooftop dovecote and daily zoo walks with the cranes.
- The love of birds wasn't limited to Oskar and his wives; their compelling story is displayed in an exhibit titled "The Bird WG. The Heinroths, their 1000 birds, and the beginnings of behavioral research" that features various artifacts, including films shot by the Heinroths.
- The exhibition at the Kulturwerk of the Stabi also includes bird specimens from the Natural History Museum, providing a fascinating blend of fashion-and-beauty (featuring the birds' stunning plumage) with the zoology behind their behavior and biology.
