Practical management of islands in Novaraistis ornithological reserve
23-11-2021
Project staff continued practical management works in Novaraistis ornithological reserve, where the wooded vegetation was removed, as well as reed stands cut for creation of breeding habitats for terns and waders.
The State ornithological reserve was established in 1988. Novaraistis SPA was designated in 2004 for protection of Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) and migrating Common Crane (Grus grus). The peat extraction company was the principal user of the bog. After the end of the exploitation of peat resources in 1979, the supervision of the area was delegated to the Šakiai State Forest Enterprise. A half of the area was flooded with water in order to prevent peat fires.
The major part of the bog is occupied by peatland, which rapidly overgrowing with shrubs and reed. Communities, typical of eutrophic waters (patches of reed-grass and reedmace), are covering rather large area of water bodies. Due to the beavers’ activities and artificial damming, large area of the site is constantly flooded with water.
Quite large amount of the excavated peat was stored in the large heaps during the peatbog exploitation process. At the end of this process a large amount of the excavated and stored peat was not transported/ removed out of the peatbog and still is located in the area. The peat heaps formed large islands in the flooded area and waterbirds, including Common tern, are using those sites for breeding.
Photos by Armandas Naudžius
