The Call of the Cranes

Dr. Wessling, born December 15, 1951, studied chemistry and biology, earning a doctorate in chemistry of natural products in 1977. Post-university, he worked as a researcher, chemist, and entrepreneur, developing and marketing new technologies, including over 13 years in China. Notably, he dedicated decades “part-time” (at his own expense) to crane conservation, gaining international recognition as a creative crane researcher.

His research began near Hamburg, overseeing crane protection in Hamburg’s Duvenstedter and Schleswig-Holstein’s Hansdorfer nature preserves as an honorary “nature conservation officer.” His focus shifted to crane research, developing sonagraphy, a method analyzing crane voice frequency spectra for individual identification without banding. He expanded this research across Germany, Asia, and North America, becoming a globally sought-after sonography specialist, not only for cranes. He uniquely participated in a key role in the extensive project involving ultralight aircraft-led whooping crane releases, developing crucial communication technology.

In his primary profession, he worked unusually, balancing his role as an industrial chemist and entrepreneur with successful basic scientific research in his medium-sized company.