Birding  in  Poland  

 

Feel  invited  to  go  bird  watching  in  charming  Polesie  

 

Year  after  year  bird  watching,  that   is  ornithological  tourism,  wins  the  hearts  of  thousands  of  tourists  who  want  to  relax  from  the  hustle-­‐bustle  of  the  city  and  seek  silence  in  natural  environment.  Polesie  is  a  unique  place  where  you  will  be  amazed  at  enchanting,  wild   landscapes,  which  are  mostly  not  affected  by  human  activity.  The  fact  that  up  to  250  bird  species  (almost  a  half  of  all  bird  species  occurring  in  Poland)  have  their  habitats   in   Polesie   only   adds   to   the   uniqueness   of   this   place.   Nature   lovers,   who   plan   a   trip   across  spectacular  Polesie,  may  choose  one  of  thirteen  bird  tourist  trails   including  walking,  bicycle  and  car  trails.  The  description  of  each  trail  may  be  found  on  the  website:  www.birdwatching.urszulin.eu.  It  is  a  wonderful  opportunity   not   only   to   get   to   know   unusual   bird   species   occurring   in   this   region,   but   also   to   take  advantage  of  other  tourist  attractions  offered  by  the  Commune  Urszulin  and  the  Polesie  National  Park.  

In  the  Commune  Urszulin  in  the  Lublin  Region  one  may  find  as  many  as  235  bird  species.  Among  them  there  are  many  unique  and  rare  representatives  of  avifauna,  for  instance,  the  ferruginous  duck  which  is  entered  into  Polish  Red  Book  of  Animals  [Polska  czerwona  księga  zwierząt],  i.e.  a  list  of  most  endangered  species  in  Poland.  The  ponds  in  Stary  Brus,  Pieszowola  in  the  Polesie  National  Park  as  well  as  Lake  Wytyckie  belong  to  the  most  important  breeding  areas  of  the  ferruginous  duck  in  the  country.  The  great  grey  owl,  on  the  other  hand,   is  an  unusual  species  as   it   is  one  of   the  biggest  owls   in   the  world.  The  number  of   its  population   in  Poland   amounts   to   barely   8   pairs.   At   present   this   species  may   be   observed   in   the   vicinity   of   the   Durne  Marsh  in  the  Polesie  National  Park.  Moreover,  the  greater  spotted  eagle  is  the  rarest  and  the  lesser  spotted  eagle  is  the  most  numerous  breeding  eagle  in  Poland.  These  eagles  may  be  observed  on  the  Krowie  Marsh  and   in   the   Polesie   National   Park.   The   real   ornithological   gem   of   this   region   is   the   aquatic   warbler   –  inconspicuous  bird  which  has   its  main  global  habitat  on  the  vast  marshes  of  Polesie.  The  aquatic  warbler  chose  marshes  and  peat  bogs  situated  within  the  Commune  Urszulin  and  the  Polesie  National  Park  to  be  one  out  of  ten  most  important  areas  for  this  species.  

Other   bird   species  which  may   be   found   in   Polesie:   the   ruff,   the   jack   snipe,   the   red-­‐breasted   goose,   the  curlew  sandpiper,  the   little  stint,   the  pallid  harrier,   the  hen  harrier,   the  black  swan,  the  black  grouse,  the  little  egret,  the  purple  heron,  the  Merlin,  the  great  snipe,  the  white-­‐backed  woodpecker,  the  grey-­‐headed  woodpecker,  the  short-­‐toed  snake  eagle,  the  horned  lark,  the  red-­‐crested  pochard,  the  barred  warbler,  the  red-­‐footed   falcon,   the   spotted-­‐crake,   the   Eurasian   curlew,   the   long-­‐legged  buzzard,   the   long-­‐tailed  duck,  the  tundra  swan,  the  Caspian  gull,  the  Mediterranean  gull,  the  little  gull,  the  European  pied  flycatcher,  the  black-­‐throated   loon,   the   red-­‐throated   loon,   the   golden   eagle,   the   steppe   eagle,   the   Rosy   starling,   the  lapland   longspur,   the   Eurasian   eagle-­‐owl,   the   saker   falcon,   the   osprey,   the   grey   plover,   the   peregrine  falcon,   the   red-­‐breasted  merganser,   the   snow   bunting,   the   red-­‐throated   pipit,   the   terek   sandpiper,   the  velvet   scoter,   the   short-­‐eared   owl,   the   parasitic   jaeger,   the   Pomarine   skua,   the   European   bee-­‐eater   and  many,  many  more.  

Tourist   trails   crossing  Polesie,  observation   towers,  especially  designated  places  of   recreation  as  well   as  a  broad   accommodation   base   make   it   possible   to   plan   an   extraordinary   few-­‐day   trip.   Educational   values  related  to  such  a  trip  may  not  be  underestimated  as  well.  Bird  watching  provides  us  with  an  opportunity  to  

get   closer   to   the  nature  and  get   to  know  rare  bird   species   in   their  natural  habitat.   For  parents  and   their  children   a   joint   adventure   may   be   both   a   practical   lesson   in   natural   sciences   and   a   great   training   of  patience,  composure  and  determination.  

   

 

 

 

The   Project   „Urszulin   –   after   work,   Polesie”   is   a   part   of   the   region   brand   using   ICT   tools.   Co-­‐financed   from   the  European  funds  and  designated  subsidy  within  the  Regional  Programme  for  the  Lublin  Province  for  2007-­‐2013,  Priority  Axis:  II  economic  infrastructure,  Measure  2.4,  Scheme  B.