A success year for the Žuvintas Lake birds
15-07-2020
Žuvintas Lake is full of voices and life – the breeding season was the most successful during the last decade. The birds’ monitoring is coming to an end and the results are more than good: the ornithologists of the Žuvintas Lake Biosphere Reserve Administration have counted 27 nests of the Great crested Grebe, 135 nests of the Black Tern (the highest number for both species during the last thirty years!). The specialists also found 57 nest of the Common Tern – it is the highest number for this species since the regular monitoring start in 1966. In addition to the mentioned species, some other breeding species were observed – Black-headed gulls, mallards, Common cranes, as well as several dozen of the Greylag geese.
It is worth to mention, that most of the birds preferred the managed areas for breeding. This spring the Žuvintas Lake Biosphere Reserve Administration has received a special machinery – an amphibia for removal of water vegetation, which was tested before the breeding season. Although the management was applied only to a small area, the results are promising. All Back-headed gulls and Common terns were breeding in the area, which was cleaned out with the special machinery. This area also attracted for breeding Common redshanks and Northern lapwings.
Furher practical conservation actions will be implemented according the the endorsed Management Plan. It is extremely important to continue management of th site and removal of the shallow lake vegetation. This management was applied in the past, however the area was adandoned later and became not suitable as breeding habitat. It‘s a unique apportunity to restore the site of the extraornitary importance for the biodiversity.
Back Tern. Photo by the Žuvintas Lake Biosphere Reserve Administration
Information source: Žuvintas Lake Biosphere Reserve Administration www.zuvintas.lt
