about Solanum
For centuries, we have been listening to birdsong, often both beautiful, inspiring and mystical at the same time. What does it mean? Are birds talking perhaps? If so, does that imply that birds are sentient beings?
Also since ancient times, we have wondered about the mysteries of bird migration. Now, recent advances in scientific research hint at the possibility that in spoonbill migration, communication through sounds plays an important role. It is suspected that the birds actually ‘say’ stuff like “come on let’s go!”, “hang on a minute, I’m not ready yet”, or “let’s meet at the same place in France where we were last year”.
Modern technology allows scientists to actually listen in on some of these ‘conversations!’ as well as to the surrounding soundscapes of stopover sites, including fellow birds and all sorts of background noise revealing clues about the environment.
Spoonbill researcher Wouter Vansteelant (BirdEyes) shared these recordings with project leader Tjibbe Stelwagen (Waakvogels), who suggested they might hold musical potential. Soon after hearing the recordings Tjibbe shared them with Caspar Koolstra and together they formed the act Solanum, named after the first ever spoonbill equipped with a sound recorder. They enhanced a selection of recordings with musical compositions and turned those together into a musical storytelling act about the migration of our protagonist. Each piece centers on a specific recording and the place where it was captured, as if Solanum had sent the world a musical post card from such place, from hatching on Schiermonnikoog until she strays and dies in Morocco, not reaching Mauritania.
Though it turned out that the technology needs to mature further to be of real scientific value, the musical use of the recordings is an unexpected but welcome outcome, enabling a wide audience to enjoy some of the wonders of the scientific study of bird migration.
Solanum is not only performing for audiences but also involved in collaborations with for example the Conservatory of Amsterdam, jointly exploring the interface between science and art.
Tjibbe Stelwagen (1976) grew up as a farmer’s son, but even as a child among the cows he was more captivated by flowers, birds, and above all, music.
He initially pursued a career in organizing cultural events and making music himself. City life, however, distanced him from nature. In 2006, almost to his own surprise, he responded to a call from Wadloopcentrum Fryslân and trained as a mudflat‑walking guide.
In the years that followed, he became so deeply inspired by the Wadden Sea that he decided on a career change and graduated cum laude in Marine Biology from the University of Groningen. To finance his studies, he combined them with a wide range of jobs — from research assistant to university lecturer — taking him from Alaska to the Caribbean and back to the Wadden Sea.
It was during this period that he met Prof. Dr. Theunis Piersma, who was impressed by Tjibbe’s passion and talents. In 2022, Piersma asked him to bring his brainchild Waakvogels to life, saying:
“I’m looking for someone who understands ecological data — but who could also turn it into a song.”
And so he did.
Caspar Koolstra (1996) is a musician, music educator, and musical director with a strong interest in community arts. He grew up on the outskirts of Amsterdam, on a houseboat in a musical family. In 2020 he completed his Bachelor of Music Education at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, followed by the Master’s programme Music in Society (2022).
Caspar enjoys working on projects with social and community impact. During his bachelor’s studies, inspired by intercultural musical encounters, he developed a workshop method for community workers in Jordan. During his master’s, he led a project in which newcomers to the Netherlands collaborated with conservatory students to compose music for a theatre production. He also teaches at the Popstudio’s, an initiative of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and Muziekcentrum Zuidoost that supports young musical talent from Amsterdam Zuidoost in preparing for a future in music education.
In addition, he writes and produces his own songs and performs on double bass and guitar in various musical groups, including the 1960s‑inspired band Steelstreet.
Photos by Jasper Zijlstra