Development of CSO Bird parks

Josefovske meadows, Mnišské meadows, Kosteliska, Mala Lipova, Zbudovska blata, Rzy, Střrmicka vyspyka and Jihlavka– these sonorous names are hidden in the CSO bird parks – areas teeming with life. We are buying up land here so that we can provide the best protection for these naturally valuable sites – for birds and other animals. And to prevent any other use for commercial purposes – e.g. fast-growing poplars, Christmas trees, building solar power plants, etc. Thanks to donor support, the CSO already owns or co-owns more than 400 hectares! We provide mowing, grazing, build pools and also make the area accessible to bird lovers. CAN YOU ALSO CONSIDER SUPPORTING BIRD CONSERVATION IN PRIVATE BIRD PARKS? With your help, we will ensure the best possible conditions for birds.

Currently: We've opened a new bird park called Jihlávka.

The problems of our countryside are probably well known to most of us and can be observed at almost every turn. Insufficient water retention in the landscape, large, monotonous and lifeless fields, sprawling development, ever more traffic... places for healthy nature are becoming fewer and fewer.

Even more threats are being added that unfortunately directly affect CSO bird parks. The growing of fast-growing poplars and Christmas trees, the construction of solar power plants, the building of high-production ponds, or land speculation. There is increasing pressure for more land to expand the bird parks and we are in a race against time.

LET'S BUILD TOGETHER AN AREA WHERE NATURE AND BIRD CONSERVATION IS AT THE FIRST PLACE!
In bird parks, we not only buy up land, but also manage it in a sustainable way so that birds and other animals and plants can live there. So we mow and graze wet meadows, cut back woody debris and invasive plants, build pools and islands, and prepare and protect suitable nesting sites. But we are also building bird observatories and hides so that the birds can be observed safely and easily.

The bird parks is presented to you in this beautiful video (recommended to watch with sound):

BIRD PARK JOSEFOVSKÉ MEADOWS NEAR JAROMĚŘ

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The bird park, already well known to most bird lovers, is situated in the floodplain of the Metuje River. So far we have acquired nearly 80 ha of meadows into private ownership, repaired the old irrigation system and flood the meadows twice a year. We have built many smaller pools and also two large pools - the Slavíkovský ptačník and the Centrální ptačník, which occupies an area of more than 3 ha. Wild horses and prairie Aurochs have been helping us with management.
In 2019, the bird park won the Sympathy Award in the nationally voted Adapterra Awards for the best climate change adaptation project.

MNIŠSKÉ MEADOWS BIRD PARK NEAR ČESKÁ LÍPA

In the floodplain of the Ploučnice River we found a magical place for the creation of another CSO reserve. Waterlogged meadows dotted with remnants of the old riverbed. The Garganey Duck, the Gadwall and Common Cranes nest here. Also Common Kingfisher, the Green Sandpiper, the Red Kite, the European Honey Buzzard and the Bluetroath bird can be spotted here. At the land owned by CSO, we created large 3000 m2 pool with gently sloping banks, which welcomed the Northern Lapwings and Common Snipes in the spring, which have not been here for years. In December 2023 we brought new helpers to Mnišské Meadows in the form of Exmoor pony mares. They will help us to graze expansive plant species and woody weeds. They are semi-wild horses whose hooves create ideal conditions for waders and as they receive no medication, their droppings are a rich source of food for birds.

BIRD PARK OF KOSTELISKA NEAR DUBŇANY

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The extensive wetland locality of Kosteliska is situated in the Hodonín region in the floodplain of the Kyjovka River in the immediate vicinity of the ornithologically attractive Mutěnice Ponds. The lands here are owned by the CSO together with its South Moravian branch and we have other lands in the management of the town of Dubňany and the Biological Centre of the CAS. The meadows are maintained by mowing, sheeps, goats, horses, Hungarian steppe cattle cows and water buffaloes graze here. Kosteliska are already home to Common Redshank, the Little Bittern, the Eurasien Bittern, the Black-winged Stilt, the Pied Avoced, the Spoted Crake and the Northern Shoveler. In addition, the grazing of Hungarian cattle has also attracted Eurasian Hoopoes.

MALÁ LIPOVÁ NEAR PŘEROV

A small sandpit near Přerov is home to a colony of the European Bee-eater that need to renew their nesting wall from time to time. In the summer of 2021, approximately 600 pairs of Sand Martins joined the site as well. Last year, more than 40 pairs of nesting European Bee-eaters occupied the sandbar. Although it is a relatively small area surrounded by intensively farmed land, more than 60 species of birds have been observed here. Rare orchids such as the Military Orchid, the Yellow Bluestem grass, and the very rare sand spider were also found here. The reserve is managed by the Moravian Ornithological Society – the Central Moravian branch of the CSO, in cooperation with the CSO office.

THE BIRD PARK ZBUDOVSKÁ BLATA NEAR ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE

We have bought of land for the fifth CSO bird park in South Bohemia. This is the legendary ornithological site Zbudovská blata. Here we plan to return water to the landscape by removing land reclamation and creating pools, and in time to introduce grazing and thus create conditions for the rarest species of waders - especially the Black-tailed Godwit and the Eurasian Curlew.

BIRD PARK RZY NEAR PARDUBICE

In this ornithologically unique locality we have established the sixth CSO bird park. However, we are playing for time. Our rivals are mainly natural succession, when the site is overgrown with trees, the wetland is drying up and gradually becoming grounded. Water quality and food quantity are also declining and reeds are spreading. This reduces the habitat suitable for many wetland and grassland bird species. The former large colonies of gulls and black-backed gulls have disappeared from the site.
Moreover, it is the first bird park with a larger, permanent water area.

BIRD PARK STŘIMICKÁ VÝSYPKA NEAR MOST

The largest bird park of 251 hectares was created near the town of Most. It is a place that was mercilessly destroyed by lignite mining in the 1950s. The site has been gradually reclaimed, but without regard for the original habitats and without regard for nature. The Střimice tip is the largest bird park in the Czech Republic, with predominantly forested areas, where landscape restoration will take place. It will create a species-rich area with light oak-hickory forests, meadows, wetlands, reedbeds and a restored orchard.

BIRD PARK JIHLAKVA NEAR TELC

The highest-elevation bird sanctuary in the Vysočina Region, where we will focus on restoring waterlogged meadows and peatlands, as well as revitalizing the Hamerský Stream, which was straightened 100 years ago.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US CREATE NEW HOMES FOR BIRDS!

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Development of CSO Bird parks

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