Eco

Special Interest Tour

Description

Eco tours give a great opportunity to be very close to the Polish nature and explore some outstanding National Parks, Bird Reserves and other Protected Landscapes. You are also invited to just jump into kayaks on Masurian Lake District. All water sport lovers can here enjoy nearly 2600 lakes connected with rivers and artificial canals. Among 23 Polish National Parks, it is essential to visit the Narew National Park. The Park lies in the Upper Narew valley and occupies the marshy Narew valley between Suraz and Rzedziany which used to belong to the Narew Landscape Park. Marshlands and wasteland are the dominating ecosystems and cover about 90% of the Park area. Birds are the great asset of the Narew National Park. In the period 1979-1981, 179 species of birds were found, including 149 nesting species. The avian fauna is composed of common dominant species (sedge warbler, reed bunting, Savi's warbler, reed warbler, mallard) which constitute about 60% of the bird numbers, and a number of species representative for the valley and associated with boggy reeds (spotted crake, little crake, black tern, bittern, marsh harrier). Here, a cruise on the boats pushed by long sticks against the river bottom to be included in the visit.

When continue to Bialowieza National Park, you will take a horse drawn carriage visit of the park located in the central part of Bialowieza Primeval Forest which is the most natural forest complex in the lowland part of Europe. The "Strict Preservation" deserves special attention as no forestry activity has been carried out since 1921. Many trees have impressive size and age. The highest spruce trees are over 52 meters high. The oldest oaks are over 400 years old. European bison is the Park symbol. We will overnight at a local houses to experience a unique local hospitality.

We continue towards south for the unique Bieszczady mountain area. Native populations of large carnivorous mammals such as the wolf, bear, and the lynx are a precious part of the Bieszczady wildlife. Among the large herbivorous, the red deer has a high population. The European bison was reintroduced to the Bieszczady toward the end of the 1960. The population of bison has adapted itself successfully to the natural conditions of the park. There are also populations of roe deer, wild boar and a few individuals of elk. The park has also successfully reintroduced the beaver. For the last few years, a herd of Hucul horses has been bred in the park in order to maintain this typical of this area old rare breed. The Park is a paradise for bird-watchers.

Another curiosity among animals is the Aesculapian snake Elaphe longissima, present only a few exist certain locations of Poland. En route in the south of Poland, you will visit the Pieniny National Park, South European, in particular xero-thermophilous fauna, is represented here insignificant numbers. In the Pieniny, there are stated 17 species of fish, 10 amphibian species, and 6 reptile species. Birds are very well investigated; 95 out of 160 species found in the area are nesting species. Rarities include: eagle owl, wall-creeper, rock thrush, pygmy owl, three-toed woodpecker, black woodpecker, and black stork. There are 61 species of mammals listed.

The Dunajec river banks are the home for river otter. The Tatra National Park embraces the youngest and the only in Poland mountains of the alpine type, characterised by a diversified relief with height differences up to 1,700m. The rich fauna of the Park is represented by many endemic, rare and protected species. Most interesting are the chamois and marmot, which have been protected since the mid-19th century, as well as the brown bear, and a number of bird species, including golden eagle, falcons, wall-creeper or alpine accentor. Higher parts of the forests are inhabited by the capercaillie, black grouse, and hazel grouse. Red and roe deer as well as small rodents are common in the forests.