THOUSANDS OF BIRDS FLOCK IN THE NEMUNAS DELTA
Nemunas is a Lithuanian ornament, the father of all rivers, from ancient times mentioned and described in the artworks of poets and writers, artists, and composers. It is not only because it is the largest river in Lithuania – tourists in particularly love the landscapes of Nemunas delta flocking with birds, and displaying miraculous sunsets.
Water-generated landscape
Nemunas Delta, elevated only a few meters above the sea level, is the lowest part of the Baltic Coast. There are as many as eight uninhabited islands and the entire unique landscape of the place is designed by water: interwoven rivers, rigmarole of canals, lakes, seaside marshes and swamps.
Nemunas Delta is a place characterized by the abundance of bird species. They have perfect conditions to settle in, so a lot of them stay and breed here, and the passing birds frequently stop for rest.
In 1993 Nemunas Delta was included into the list of wetlands of international importance, and in order to preserve this fascinating and unique landscape, the Nemunas Delta Regional Park was established in this area.
Mighty river wakes up in spring
If you visit the Nemunas River Delta Regional Park when the crazy spring floods are storming, the sightseeing will be really impressive and experience will be ultimate. You will travel along the immense flooded grasslands of the delta, dotted with rare water birds, and take boats to sail to the lonely scattered homesteads. The latter in spring look like temporary islands, washed by the floods, which do a good job, too, by fertilising the flooded meadows. Therefore, the grasses in these areas in summer are mowed four times and the yield is incredibly abundant.
The best place to watch birds
A boat trip is not the only entertainment of this area. Visit Vente Cape – a peninsula near the Curonian Lagoon, very close to the mouth of the Nemunas River. This is one of the best places in Europe to monitor and ring the passing birds. Sometimes, as many as 300 thousand birds pass through Vente Cape during the day and Vente Cape ornithological station rings about 60-80 thousand birds a year. When you come, its staff will invite you to the museum, where visitors are introduced to the Lagoon landscape and characteristic vegetation, and the usually found animals.