While the Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca) is only known to most Europeans as an invasive species, it once had divine significance in its namesake homeland. Although its original distribution area extended across almost the entire African continent, it was particularly worshipped in ancient Egypt, especially around Thebes. There it was considered a deity, Gengen Wer, "the great cackler," whose loud cackle filled the primordial darkness and who laid the world egg in a mulberry tree in Heliopolis, from which light and the world then emerged. This deity was one of the various manifestations associated with the complex Egyptian pantheon, which included the fertility aspects of gods like Amun. People assumed that creation was a continuous cycle and that every human being hatched from an underworld goose egg.

Nature's hide-and-seek ❄️🦆☃️

Seemingly endless..
along the Grote Nete river.

Seemingly endless..
along the Grote Nete river.

The heath in Kessel, Belgium is characterized by heather, swamps, drifting sand and ponds. Heath landscapes are a beautiful example of the interplay of culture and biodiversity. 6000 years ago 80 percent of Europe was still covered by forests. Heath areas naturally occurred only in very rare cases on coasts, in moorland areas and in the mountains. Then people started to use the forests for themselves. They required grazing land and thus not only changed the landscape, but also created new habitats for many different species. The extensive use of deforested and cleared areas resulted in increasingly nutrient-poor soils and grazing animals were bred that are particularly suitable for these areas. The upper layer of soil was regularly removed, mixed with animal manure and burned or applied to fields as fertilizer. The rain washed out the last nutrients and specially adapted plant species settled there, followed by rare animals.

These unique ecosystems survive only through active human intervention, which has been achieved through centuries of heath farming. However, this type of farming has become uneconomical, and a large part of the land has been converted into arable land by applying fertiliser. Other areas became forest again because keeping animals on nutrient-poor areas is associated with lower yields. With the loss of the heathland, numerous animal and plant species are threatened with extinction. And all the beauty that has always inspired painters and poets could simply disappear. It could hardly have been the biodiversity alone that led to active conservation efforts, but rather the cultural connection to this romanticized landscape form. We keep what we find beautiful and we can only find beautiful what we can see.

A nice memory from today a year ago ✨🦥❤️🐑✨

I always enjoy the beautiful Taunus 😊

Thursday evening after the first of two windstorms calmed down. The weather was really nice for a moment. Evening after evening the sunset approaches the Taunus Mountains. Its glow is already touching the Altkönig ("Old King"). Shortly after taking this photo, hailstones started penetrating the sensitive tip of my sloth nose. Can't await summer!

Some impressions of the area around Berlaar. Isn't it wonderful?☯️

Turnhouts Vennengebied is an important heathland in Flanders with moors, heaths and meadows. The nature reserve covers an area of more than 500 ha. Many animals can be seen, including magical moments with grazing sheep in the woods.✨

🌲🌾🐑🌲

It is important that some areas are kept free through grazing so that the unique habitats are not lost due to bush and forest cover. In 1999 a nature development project started to restore the landscape. Land was exchanged in consultation with farmers. Particularly sensitive areas were renovated in this way.