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NEWS
29.06.2010
After the May and
June flood the situation is getting back to normal and the water
level is diminishing exposing the so far flooded meadows.
Despite of the high water level some bird species, like Black-necked
grebe and Black-headed gull managed to bring up their nestlings.
It’s because those species build nests that float on the water
surface so they are less vulnerable to water fluctuation.
Unfortunately, some species that build nests directly on the ground,
like Common tern, Little tern, Lapwing, Redshank or Oystercatcher,
lost their nests and had to look for new places to lay their eggs.
Among the communities of reed canary grass, European White
Waterlilies and Yellow water-lylies form new colonies of Black-tern
and White-winged tern.
The Northern Polder is now a paradise for Spotted crake and Water
rail, a higher water level on the meadows cerated convenient
conditions for those species. At dusk, over the meadows spreads the
squeak of Water rail an the call of Spotted crake that resembles a
sound of tap drips. Among reeds and sedges warble Sedge and Savi’s
warblers sometimes waft a call of Bittern that found good living
conditions in the northern part of the park which is now much more
drier than the southern one.
Near Kłopotowo between the levees formed small flood waters that are
eagerly visited by egrets, Black storks, geese and ducks. Presently,
begins the molting season when birds lose their feathers and are
temporally flightless. Drakes, after losing their cryptic plumage,
will have a more female-like plumage.
At the turm of June and July White storks’ nestlings become bigger
and are more visible for a average observer. Young White storks are
covered by white down and have black legs and beaks which are
shorter than those of adult birds, soon they will have feathers and
train their wings preparing for the first flight.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Located where the Warta River meets the Odra River, near the
north-west border of the Lubuskie region, is a truly magnificent
bird sanctuary. There are few similar places in Poland where one
can observe such a variety of birds. Consequently, the area has been
under protection since 1977 as the Słońsk Nature Reserve (also in
accordance with The Ramsar Convention as an internationally
important wetland). In the next few years the protected area was
enlarged and established as the Warta Mouth Landscape Park. As of 1
July 2001 the region was designated as Warta Mouth National Park,
and now covers approximately 8 thousand hectares.
The
Park, situated in the Warta’s marginal stream valley, is dominated
by open wet grasslands, pasture lands cut across by many
canals
and an old river bed. The Warta River flows through the middle of
the Park, separating it into the northern polder and the southern
protected area known as “Słońsk”. The northern section is cut off
from the Warta by a flood bank, therefore the hydrological
conditions are rather stable. In the southern end the annual water
level fluctuations can reach up to 4 meters per year. These
fluctuations are the main factor influencing the number of bird
species.
VEGETATION
In
the past the National Park’s grounds were covered by a riparian
forest. There were mostly willow-poplar and ash-alder marshy
meadows. During 18th century land improvements,
widespread deforestation occurred and meadow-pasture ecosystems were
established. Presently, the primary character of the vegetation
consists of only willow scrubs and the riparian forest remains only
in the shape of single grand willows, poplars and elms.
The
flora in the National Park is typical for big low-lying rivers.
Researchers have recorded 60 vegetation communities and about 400
species of vascular plants. Among the varieties which are protected
in Poland occur: nenufar, yellow water lily, angelica, sand
pink and sand sedge. Also observed are very rare plants which are
considered regionally endangered. These include: marsh pea, water
germander, small-flowered bitter-cress, flat-stalked pondweed,
Cnidium dubium, adders-tongue and pink water-speedwell, which is
actually very common in this area.
The
largest part of the National Park is occupied by rush-bulrush
communities, dominated by water-manna grass, reed canary-grass,
greater yellow-cress and Carex gracilis. Herbaceous-meadow and
pasture assemblages are overgrown with meadow foxtail,
purple-loosestrife, and marsh marigold. In channels and old river
beds one can observe simply structured water plant communities
created by small plants which cover the water surface including:
common duckweed, fat duckweed, greater duckweed. In the non-flowing
deeper pools water lily communities are developing.
ANIMAL WORLD
Warta Mouth National Park is one of the most valuable areas in all
of Poland as far as ornithology is concerned. Unique wetlands,
widespread meadows and pasture lands are the most important
mainstays for water and shore birds. In the Park, 248 species of
birds have been recorded. According to the BirdLife International
classification, as many as 26 bird species living in the Park are
either rare or endangered, including:
corncrake, aquatic warbler, black-tailed godwit, crane, bittern and
little bittern. There are 160 species breeding within the Park.
Each year 4 species of grebes, 8-9 species of ducks, 5 species of
rails, 4-5 species of gulls and 8-9 species of waders come here to
raise their nestlings. For many bird species this area is one of the
most significant breeding grounds in Poland, e.g. shelduck,
gadwall, oystercatcher, little gull and little tern. The numbers of
some species may be significant even as far as Europe is concerned
e.g. aquatic warbler, black tern, greylag goose, red-necked grebe,
and shoveler. The breeding season is not the only time that the
National Park is important for birds.
In the summer months a great number of waterfowl moult in the Park
e.g. ducks (mallard, teal), greylag geese, mute swan, crested coot
and recently cranes. During migrations many bird species use the
area as a resting ground. It is during late autumn that the Park
becomes a kingdom for arctic geese (bean and white-fronted geese)
and flocks may number as many as 200
thousand individuals. The bean
goose, which is the most numerous during this time, has become a
symbol of Warta Mouth National Park. Throughout winter in the Park
becomes a vital wintering ground for whooper and mute swans,
white-tailed eagles, ducks and geese.
Among the other animal groups in the Park 36 species of mammals
occur. These include: otter, ermine, badger, beaver, musk-rat, wild
boar, roe-deer and American mink. It has been noted that the
American mink, due to its predatory nature, has a large impact on
the birds in the Park. The water in the Park is very rich in fish
life, among which 35 species have been confirmed. The most numerous
are bleak, bream, white (silver) bream, roach, pike, perch, tench
and pike- perch. Fish species which are under strict protection
include: bitterling, spined loach, weatherfish and spirlin.
HISTORY AND LAND USE
While observing the richness of bird life, people admire this wild
and mysterious place. For many people it is hard to believe that
the local landscape and unique bird habitat are actually due to
human intervention.
For centuries the Warta River was connected to the Odra by numerous
river branches and the whole valley was covered with riparian
forests and meadows. On these meadows were large predators such as
wolves, bears and wolverines. Under the rule of Frederic the Great,
235 years ago, wide and extensive land remediation was carried out.
The forests were cleared and flood banks were built. The valley of
the lower course of the Warta and unusable marshes were converted to
colonization and agricultural uses. Cattle, horses, goose pastures
and grass mowing began. Thanks to this long-term ground
cultivation, the unique widespread present bird habitat came into
being.
This method of land use in the Park is not only permitted but
recommended in terms of bird protection. Meadows and pasture lands
which are surrounded by shallow waters are a convenient habitat for
many breeding birds such as gulls, terns, waders and geese.
Unfortunately, due to a reduction in agricultural use and allowing
the meadows to go fallow in many places the National Park can get
overgrown. This causes a reduction of the widespread bird habitat
and a decrease in the number of rare or endangered bird species.
Restoring extensive pasture lands and mowing of many meadows would
give an opportunity to reverse these inconvenient changes and thus
result in an increase in the number of birds utilizing the area.
TOURIST INFORMATION
There are few marked tourist trails located in Warta Mouth National
Park, however they do exist. The trails for pedestrians and
bicyclists are marked, with directions, on a map.
Warta Mouth National Park’s headquarters, including its Education
Center, is located in Chyrzyno. The Education Center houses both a
laboratory and classroom, which are well equipped for a variety of
activities. The beautiful landscape can be admired from atop the
viewing tower.
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