In the Kingdom of birds

Birds feel in Poland at home. Storks can be observed in many different places throughout the country; there are thousands of pigeons in the Cracovian marker square, while the city of Zielona Góra near the Polish–German border is home to the largest flock of magpies. At the mouth of the Warta, a confluent of the Odra, and near the border–crossing at Kostrzyn, there is the famous avifauna reserve of Słońsk with hundreds of mud and water bird species. Breeding grounds of crane, mute swan, grey lag goose and bittern are also found in the Świdwie reserve on the Szczecin Coastland. Worth a visit is the Słowiński National Park included in UNESCO’s 1977 list of World Biosphere Reserves. Its most unusual feature are the 750 acres of shifting dunes. Some of them are 42m high and they all move at the speed of 9m per year. In spite of the fact that the temperature of sand comes up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit in summer, the park’s area thrives with wildlife. Its unique dune flora and damp forest provide a habitat for some 250 species of birds which live here either permanently or seasonally. Here your hunting collections can be enriched with pictures or recorded voices of rare northern migrating species: mergansers, goosanders and ducks. The Biebrza and Narew river valleys attract thousands of those who enjoy photographing and filming birds and those who like to make recordings of bird soloists as well as of the whole avian orchestras. A special event for bird watchers is organised at Narewka in mid–April by a group of Polish tour operators. Your collection of bird pictures can be extended with the images of nine species of woodpeckers, red–breasted and collared fly–catchers, nutcracker, and hazel grouse. White–tailed eagle, grey heron and black stork can be spotted in the vicinity of the Siemianówka water reservoir. Tooting ruffs, black grouses and great snipes can be heard and watched at the turn of April during the „Days of Wild Meadows” organised at Goniądz on the Biebrza. The „Days of Wild Sea” are a popular coastal event organised near Gdańsk in mid–February, where the birdwatchers can take pictures of auks, guillemots, colourful eiders and other sea duck species. All these events, including the charming „Avian Balls”, are a good opportunity to make new friends with people who share the same interests.

The lovers of birds of prey should go to the region of the Bieszczady Mountains; there, armed with binoculars, they can even observe the golden eagle.

There are many different ways to take pictures of birds or record their voices; these animals, however, are very sensitive and vigilant, therefore, it is recommended to watch them under the guidance of those who love and protect them.