The accelerating spring in the vicinity of Žuvinto is always impressive. Some species of flying birds are replaced by others, the birds do not sleep after returning to the intermediate places - here you can hear a wide variety of new voices every time.
"This year, the huge gatherings of migrating geese in Lake Žuvinto were surprising. In the first days of March, we counted more than 40 thousand geese that spent the night in the lake: tundra, white-fronted, gray, white-cheeked geese - when there are so many of them, it is not easy to count them by species. Another 8 thousand geese gathered in Lake Amalvo and its outskirts, a couple of thousand in Žaltyty. It is not surprising that among them, birdwatchers found small, short-beaked geese, brown-necked barnacles, northern Canadian barnacles - very rarely seen migrants," said Arūnas Pranaitis, ecologist of the Directorate of Dzūkija-Suvalkija protected areas.
The largest spring accumulation is already melting a little as the most abundant species - the tundra goose, only white-fronted geese should stay for another good month. On the other hand, later species of ducks, pond birds are still gathering in Žuvinta. You should first look for them at the northern edge of the Amalvo swamp - the Amalvo polder. Early flocks of triggerfish appeared here (males still without the decorative neck and head feathers), nearby - ground sows, about a thousand pempis, red-legged tulics, and thunderbirds. In the deeper flooded areas of the polder, hundreds of flocks of grebes, brown-headed grebes, stilt-tailed ducks, spoon-billed ducks have just appeared. In the second decade of March, almost a hundred whooper swans, 30 little swans, over 200 whooper swans, 350 coots, 102 mallard ducks, as well as tens of brown-headed mallards, white herons, and gray ducks were counted in the Amalvo polder. The polder's waterfowl are regularly visited by a pair of sea eagles, most likely nesting in the nearby Amalvo Marsh. Reed lings, migrating ospreys, black pelicans and black storks are already observed.
Well over two thousand birds were found in Žaltyty at the end of March. Brown-headed Gulls - At the time of the first waterfowl census, they had not yet been counted, but already a whole army of them is picking small chironomid gnats from the surface of the water, as well as grebes, brown-headed grebes and other river ducks. 650 white-fronted geese, almost 400 tufted ducks, 270 brown-headed ducks, 300 coots floated in the lake, and small toothbills and gray ducks were also observed. Most of them are in the southern part of the lake. During the first census, 1876 birds were counted, excluding brown-headed gulls, 16 species.
While some species only stay in Žuvinta on their way to transition areas, the local species of Žuvinta rush to occupy places for nesting. A large number of brown-headed gulls, which survived the bird flu epidemic last year, are already staying at their nesting sites. Gray geese have laid eggs and are already hatching. Cranes also do not retreat from the places chosen for their nests. So for everyone who wants to see and feel the greatness of Žuvinto, now is the time. The most important thing is not to forget that the desire to know and admire the birds should not turn into their disturbance.
We would also like to remind you that since April, the Žuvintas visitor center is also open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 15 p.m. we look forward to your visit.
