It has
been known for ages that above the Curonian Spit one of the most significant
routes of the birds migrating from Northern Europe to the south and back called
White – Baltic Seas Migration Path is spread.
As the interest in mysterious birds travel and clarifying
the sites of their hibernation and breeding increased, in 1901, in Rasyte
(present days Rybacis) there was a birds observation station established, which
is still operating. Its activity is oriented toward birds’ ringing and
gathering of biometric data.
Observation of birds is a very popular activity all over the
Western world among amateurs, who spend large amounts of time outdoors and have
interest in nature’s phenomena.
One of the areas of observation of birds is the recognition
of the migrating feathered and estimation of their number. It requires good
ability to recognize birds from their appearance and sounds they make. Most of
the flying birds can be recognized only from their voices. One needs to have
good optical appliances: spyglasses, telescopes, digital cameras, as well as
modern reference book on birds.
Site of migration observation
It is most convenient to observe migration from high hills
or dunes, from birds’ observation turrets or in the open space, for instance,
on the seacoast or in the wide fields. In order to make it possible to hear
even the weakest voices of small birds flying by, there should be no noise and
other disturbances.
However, the most important thing is for the location of
observation to be on the path of birds’ migration. The Curonian Spit meets all
the requirements made for observation of birds.
Lately, the highest Dune of Parnidis whumping near Nida,
called Solar Clock Dune by foreign ornithologists, is becoming especially
popular for this goal. In spring, the first migrating birds reach Lithuania
already at the beginning of March, and the last migrants fly by their breeding
places only at the end of May. One can observe even more birds than in spring
during autumn migration from August until November. At that point, hatched
nestlings join the flocks flying to wintering places. There are only a few
places in Northern and Central Europe, where one can observe such a plenitude
of migrating birds as in the Curonian Spit.
The narrow Spit masses the feathered for their flight above
this strip of land and allows the observers to see all plenitude of them. Here,
there is a big variety of species of birds, part of which rush to breed even to
Far North or hibernate to Africa. The other significant advantage of birds’
observation in Nida is accommodation and catering services rendered for attractive
off-season prices. This convenience is increased by the possibility to reach
the observation places on the Dune of Parnidis and seacoast by car, since one
has to transport heavy and friable observation equipment. Upon the change of
weather conditions, observers also can quickly find a lee. Variety of migrating
birds During active autumn migration, in the daytime, one can observe up to
half of a million birds migrating to the south. In the process of migration,
one has a chance to observe tens thousand of various tits, finches, pipits,
starlings, larks, siskins, swallows, thrushes and pigeons ringdoves.
Every day, one can also count up to a thousand birds of
prey, flocks of goose, ducks and swans migrating. In the early spring, typical
daytime migrants are cranes, lapwings, curlews, buzzards and small warblers.
Rare species always bring joy to observers of birds.
The Curonian Spit is the place, where you can observe even
such rare birds as a peregrine falcon, a red-legged falcon, a brown kite or a
pink starling.