One of the largest complexes of wetland meadows, the Ljubljansko barje is a very important area for birds. The mosaic of habitats provides a place for the survival of a wide range of species with different requirements, and at the same time it suits those who need diverse habitats in different life stages, e.g. they nest in the forest, but look for food in the meadows. Many species stop over at the Ljubljansko barje during migration, and some spend the winter here. In addition to meadow habitats, birds in the Ljubljansko barje most often use sedges, tall sedges, bushes and hedgerows.
PSSST!
Bird watching requires some patience.
The results of your observation depends to a large extent on the time of year, the time of day, and the experience and ability to observe and listen.
Birds are most easily observed in the spring, when the mating and migration periods overlap. At this time, they are easier to spot because they mark their territory with singing or wedding flights, and the vegetation is not too lush just yet.
Most birds are most active in the morning, already before dawn, and to a lesser extent again in the evening, before dusk, some species even at night. At midday, especially in the summer, it will be difficult to see or hear them.
In pure silence, observe the tops of trees, high sedges and the edges of nearby hedgerows. Do you recognise any of the birds perched on them?
Even if they are hidden from your curious gaze, here you can find out some interesting facts about the life of some characteristic species that find their home in the Ljubljansko barje.
Corn crake
The corn crake is a “shy” migratory bird from the Rallidae (Rails) family. It spends only a few months in the Ljubljansko barje, from the beginning of May to September, and overwinters in the south-eastern part of Africa. Males attract females with vocalisation that resembles the sharpening of a scythe (kosa) blade, after which the species gets its Slovenian name (kosec). Its preferred nesting areas contain high and sufficiently dense vegetation. Because it nests on the ground and needs to be covered by high grass in the summer, the biggest threat to it is premature mowing of lawns. Unfavourable for its reproduction is also the overgrowth of surfaces, resulting from the abandonment of farming.
Sky lark
Sky larks can be observed in the Ljubljansko barje from early spring to late autumn, rarely in winter as well. Their habitat are vast meadows in flood areas, where they can most often be heard singing high in the sky. During the warm part of the year, they feed on insects and other invertebrates, and, during the cold part of the year, mainly on seeds. In autumn, they like to gather in large flocks, hang out in harvested fields and fly from stubble to stubble.
Whinchat
In the Ljubljansko barje, the whinchat nests on wet meadows and grasslands, where high sedges also grow. It often sits on them and looks out for the invertebrates it feeds on. It returns from its African overwintering grounds in the second half of April or the beginning of May and then builds a nest on the ground, which it hides well in the grass. In late summer, after nesting, the whinchats in the Ljubljansko barje are joined by flyover birds from elsewhere.
Common whitethroat
The common whitethroat nests in overgrown wet meadows with individual bushes or trees. In the spring, the male builds several nests among the upright sedges and the female chooses the most suitable one. It feeds on smaller insects and their larvae and spiders, occasionally also on juicy fruits. It is a migratory bird that arrives to the Ljubljansko barje in the second half of April, and leaves for its overwintering grounds in Africa at the end of summer.
Yellowhammer
The yellowhammer is an inhabitant of the mosaic cultural landscape, which is rich in scrub, hedgerows or overgrown forest edges. It can be seen in the Ljubljansko barje all year round, but it is most noticeable during the breeding season, when it sings on an exposed branch of a tree or bush. It builds a rather large nest in a bush or in a young tree close to the ground. It feeds on insects and caterpillars, and in winter mainly on seeds. In winter, yellowhammers can also merge into larger flocks or join flocks of other bird species.
Red-backed shrike
The red-backed shrike watches its prey from a perch at the top of a bush or fence. In addition to large insects, its menu also includes amphibians, reptiles and even smaller birds. It nests from May to June. It hides a fairly large nest in dense, thorny bushes, which it weaves out of grass blades and moss and a bed of animal hair. The red-backed shrike is a migrant that overwinters in tropical Africa. It returns to our region in May.
Great white heron
The great white heron is one of the larger representatives of herons and is only slightly smaller than the grey heron. Her feathers are entirely white. It is a frequent visitor to the Ljubljansko barje, although it does not nest in this area. In addition to the birds that make a stopover here while migrating, some also spend the winter here. They prey on small mammals in meadows, and fish along rivers, streams and drainage ditches.
Common crane
The common crane is a very large bird with long legs and a long neck. It is a skilled glider and makes good use of air currents on its marathon-long migration routes. On the way to their overwintering or nesting grounds, they rest and feed in the Ljubljansko barje and thus gather energy to continue their journey. Common cranes are not difficult to spot during migration. They fly in large V-shaped flocks and can be seen from afar. Even before we see them, we usually hear them, as they announce themselves with a loud “trumpet-like sound” in flight.