Broad horizons Back to nature

52
birdwatching in croatia
birdwatching in croatia 53
Note: this is not a specialist or expert text on birdwatching
but a general overview of birdwatching in Croatia. The text
has been prepared in cooperation with the web portal www.
ptice.net and with the kind assistance of Mr Darko Podravec,
with our thanks.
Birdwatching in Croatia is only recently gaining in popularity,
partly due to the interest shown by visitors from other
European countries, notably Great Britain. However, local
ornithological societies and other organisations, including
schools, are also making a significant contribution through
monitoring the numbers of birds, organising volunteer camps
for tagging birds and raising awareness about the need not
only to protect birds but the environment as a whole.
According to data from the State Directorate for the Protection
of Nature and the Environment, in December 1999, there were
371 bird species in Croatia, an exceptionally high number
for a country of this size. There are 228 nesting species, of
which 78 are registered as endangered species in Europe. At
the same time, Croatia has an exceptionally high number of
endangered species due to disappearing habitats, especially
wetlands, and due to poaching. The majority of protected
species are to be found in hard-to-reach areas such as
mountain peaks, cliff faces and gorges, and areas such as
the Neretva delata on the Adriatic coast and along the Sava
and Drava rivers in the north, as well as close to the large
fish farms to be found in Pannonian Croatia.
Today in Croatia there are 19 bird reserves engaged in nature
protection in areas where there are large bird populations,
large numbers of species of birds, or where endangered
species are to be found. Birdlife International has identified 23
The first bird reserve in Croatia
Krapje đol, not far from the villages of Krapje and
Jasenovac in central Croatia, was designated a bird
reserve in 1963. Here, a tributary of the River Sava
provides ideal nesting conditions for the Eurasian
Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia). The tributary sadly
dried up due to the construction of an embankment and
became overgrown. However, the species which nest
here, which are rare both in European and global terms,
have been saved thanks to a canal which was built to
restore the flow of water.
www.inyourpocket.com
Darko Podravec
Important Bird Areas in Croatia, while the State Directorate for
the Protection of Nature and the Environment has recognised
40 areas which are important for bird life. Some of these areas
are bird reserves, some form parts of national parks or nature
parks, while others do not enjoy any form of protection.
Although there are birdwatching opportunities all year round,
the liveliest seasons are spring and autumn. Autumn signals
both the departure of species that nest in Croatia and the
arrival of visitors from northern Europe and Asia. In spring,
the species that spend their winters in the warmer climes of
Africa return to nest. At any time, you might spot a species
that is just passing through en route to somewhere else:
Croatia is a bottleneck on the migratory route to and from
Africa for a large number of European bird species. There
are guide books available to help you identify species and
understand their behaviour.
The best times of the day for birdwatching are the early
morning and early evening. At these times, birds are at their
most active, especially during the summer when birds, like
people, avoid the hottest part of the day.
Of course, if you do go birdwatching, it’s vital to take care
not to disturb the birds. Large numbers of visitors to national
parks, nature parks and bird reserves may be distressing to
their inhabitants, and disturbing the birds prevents us from
being able to observe their natural behaviour. It is advisable
to avoid getting too close to bird nests, since you risk the
parents abandoning the nests, which is disastrous, especially
where endangered species are concerned.
The equipment you need for birdwatching includes good
quality binoculars and a handbook which classifies birds by
species. You’ll also be glad of a good camera and sensible
clothing. Obviously, you should avoid bright colours which will
scare the birds away.
Many birdwatchers pass on the information they collect to
the institutions responsible for the protection of birds or
to ornithological societies, which is of great help to these
organisations in monitoring changes in the number of birds,
in their behaviour and habitats.
Since birdwatching in Croatia is still not very common, below
we list a range of organisations which might be of interest
to nature lovers, although there might neither be much
information about birds in specific nor professional guides.
Before visiting any protected area, we ask you to please
contact the organisation responsible, which will give you
any instructions and warnings necessary to protect fragile
habitats, enabling as many people as possible to enjoy the
beauty of nature as well as learning how to protect it.
Lake Vrana Nature Park / Lake Vrana Bird Reserve Lake
Vrana lies alongside the coast road between Zadar and
Šibenik, or more precisely, between Pirovac and Pakoštane.
241 bird species have been logged in the area of the Nature
Park, 102 of which nest here. This is a good place to spot
the Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea), Great Bittern (Botaurus
stellaris), Corncrake (Crex crex) and Squacco Heron (Ardeola
ralloides), all endangered species in Europe.
The Park staff can organise visits on foot or by boat to
birdwatching sites upon request. The price of a visit, complete
with an expert guide, is 100kn/h per person, and the trip can
take up to five hours. Entry tickets to the Nature Park are also
payable (20kn adults, children 7 - 18, 10kn). Visitors should
bring their own birdwatching equipment, and call ahead to
announce group visits.
Lake Vrana Nature Park Kralja Petra Svačića 2, Biograd,
tel. (+385-23) 38 31 81, 38 64 52, pp-vransko-jezero@
zd.t-com,www.vransko-jezero.hr.
Pag island The island of Pag is home to the following bird
reserves: Kolansko blato, Blato Rogoza, Veliko blato and
Malo blato. All of these are marshlands which are home to
species including the Gadwall (Anas strepera), Montagu’s
Harrier (Circus pygargus) and Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha
calandra), which are endangered in Europe. Call into the Tourist
Association in Povljana to buy entry tickets for the Veliko blato
reserve, which has a hide with a checklist.
Povljana Tourist Association Stjepana Radića 20,
Povljana, tel. (+385-23) 69 20 03, (+385)098 184 21
29, tz-povljana@zd.t-com.hr, www.tz-povljana.hr.
Kolan Tourist Association Trg kralja Tomislava, Kolan, tel.
(+385-23) 69 82 90, info@tzkolan-mandre.com, www.
tzkolan-mandre.com.
Telašćica Nature Park This fantastic nature park in the
Telašćica Bay on Dugi Otok is also designated an Important
Bird Area. 110 bird species have been sighted here. Perhaps
the most exciting birds to spot are birds of prey such as the
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus). The Park is accessible
by boats laid on by travel agencies and private boat owners,
or from dry land from the town of Sali. Entry tickets cost
28 - 60kn. If you require a guide, please phone one week
in advance.
Telašćica Nature Park Ulica Danijela Grbin bb, Sali, tel.
(+385-23)37 70 96, 37 73 95, telascica@zd.t-com.hr,
www.telascica.hr.
Kornati National Park A national park made up of some
90 islands, islets and reefs spanning the area between
Biograd and Šibenik. The land is owned by the residents
Fun for the whole family
zadar.inyourpocket.com
of the surrounding islands. This is also an Important Bird
Area, although it’s insufficiently researched with respect to
fauna and flora so there are no accurate data on numbers of
species. In common with other island habitats, owls, seagulls
and the European Shag (no tittering, you at the back) can
be spotted here. You can visit Kornati if you have your own
boat, or as part of a trip organised by a travel agencies and
private boat owners in the areas of Šibenik, Murter, Zadar,
Biograd and the islands in the Zadar area. Tickets are for
sale in the Park itself and in local travel agencies, and cost
150 - 1500kn depending on the size of the boat. There are
no guided tours.
Waterbird Census
Darko Podravec
Bird lovers can take part in the International Winter
Waterbird Census, organised by Wetlands International
on a global level. Taking place over three weeks at the
beginning of January every year, the census aims to collect
information on the ever more endangered bird species
that inhabit marshes and other wetland habitats, as well
as on species that nest in the far northern regions of
Europe and Asia. Read more on www.wetlands.org.
Darko Podravec
Zadar In Your Pocket
zadar.inyourpocket.com
zadar.inyourpocket.com
Summer 2011