This unusual and rare bird is a trademark
of the Nin Lagoon. In order to easily cope spring fatigue, please take our
advice and visit the lagoon that offers a new experience of a close encounter
with the black-winged stilt nesting in the fields of the salt works. If you
like long walks then you should try the theme trails of the Eco Park of the Nin
Lagoon and watch the birds. Bird watching is the right choice for you! Sit on
one of the benches on the wooden walkways, watch the Black-Winged Stilt or another
bird, and experience a bird in flight or some of its interesting moments
captured by a camera or mobile phone. Although you can see the Black-Winged Stilt
of the Nin lagoon from March to September, this Spring time is the best time to
create beautiful bird pictures in their natural environment.
Social
Bird of "Noble Origin"
Do you wonder who the Black-Winged Stilt
is? With its slim appearance and proud as her name suggests, this bird amongst
others, stands out with its peculiar white body, black wings and long black
beak. It is also special because of its long, dark red feet which give it a
special noble note. It is no wonder that such a noble among the birds has
chosen the Croatian royal town for the place of its habitat.
Although a "noble", the Black-Winged Stilt is a very social bird and keeps in small flocks of five to ten birds
out of nesting season, and often joins mixed flocks of other bird species. But she is
very wise. If she feels that her nest with her birds is endangered, then she becomes
a real actress - she pretends to be wounded, for example, that her wing is
broken in order to attract attention to herself and distract the human eye from
her nest.
There is also one important warning - the
Black-Winged Stilt must not be hurt. It is protected by the Nature Protection
Act as a strictly protected species. It is also protected by the Bonn
Convention, the Bern Convention and the Birds Directive. Why did she choose the
Nin Lagoon for nesting? Because of the shallow coasts of the lagoon, wetlands
and salt works where traditional salt production takes place. In case the
Black-Winged Stilt decides that it does not want to be a "model"
anymore, then it will withdraw, and you can continue to enjoy observing other
bird species, such as the Eurasian Dotterel ,
Northern Lapwing, European Shag, Grey Heron, European Robin and even the
Nightingale whose song will instantly put a smile on your face.
Active
vacation by bike
If you have had enough of walking and bird
watching, or you prefer a two-wheel drive, take a bicycle ride to the bicycle
trails, there is as many as 110 kilometers of trail's in Nin's vicinity. Riding
on these trails will provide you with a chance for a healthy and active
vacation combined with enjoyment and meditation in the picturesque ambience of
preserved nature and a tour of many historic nineteenth-century sites and
natural attractions.
Watching other birds in the Nin lagoon in
this springtime, you will feel the much needed spiritual peace. Their drifting
wings, chirping, and mutual communication is a sufficient reason for us to feel
better, livelier and to once again realize how beautiful and contentious life
is due to the variety of natural riches and variety of the animal world. It is said,
not without reason, that everything is nice for a short while so use spring and
summer time and enjoy bird watching, long walks and cycling because autumn will
shortly arrive after the birds leave the Nin Lagoon. Until the new spring and
return to their habitat.
Foto: Goran Šafarek, Marin Stulić
