Site visit: Grabownica Fish Pond: monitoring of invertebrates
Fish ponds are not natural habitats. They are man-made and seasonal dynamics are regulated by human activities. The main is fish harvest, which in carp ponds is in autumn. Water is left out of the ponds and carps are collected at the outlet. Nonetheless, during many centuries many aspects in the Milicz Ponds did not change. E.g. the ponds themselves after having reached the current extension remained the same. Therefore, between the ponds a distinctive landscape similar to alluvial and riverside forests developed. These remained unchanged, were conserved, developed and today provide a broad variety of vertebrate as well as invertebrate fauna, closely depending on the ponds. The institute of the Wrocław University monitors the variety, educates students for Biodiversity and is responsible for a number of conservation and scientific projects. Many biological data are collected and contribute to management of the lake region. Professor Dariusz Tarnawski and his team presented the methods of investigation of the rare beetle species: Great capricorn beetle, Hermit beetle and Stag beetle.
Site visit: Lunch at Niesułowice Restaurant
Carp-cooking-culture was underdeveloped in the region, beginning with the fact that local people ate few carp. Instead, the fish was exported to other regions. In order to use the recognition as a carp-center in Poland to attract more visitors, ambitious publicans start with new and traditional meals and menus and invented a contest on best carp meals in Poland.
Site visit: Ruda Milicka Gajówka Centre and Ornithological Station
Very recently and in terms to attract people to the region, also efforts for environmental education were strengthened. The NGOs repaired an old, abandoned farmstead and facilitates visits of schools and environmental groups. The education is done in close cooperation with the nearby ornithological station of the Wrocław University. Also local people are integrated in this approach, as virtual every house choose its own bird-species, with a sign next to the street number indicating the bird.
Site visit: Pond complex Stawno
Beata Orłowska, an ornithologist from the Ornithological station Of the University of Wrocław presented some aspects of scientific research carried out for the management purposes. First presented aspect was control of the Cormorant population. The scientists count the birds, study their food and estimate fish loss caused by the Cormorant and other fish eating birds. Basing on these findings, the Regional Conservation issues the permits for reduction of the bird numbers. In addition, there is an agreement to destroy the content of the Cormorant nests, however 15 nests per each of 5 fish complexes should remain intact. This is also supervised by the ornithologists. The participants watched the Cormorant colony on the island of the Słoneczny Pond.
Another aspect was the revitalization project on the Polny fish pond. The pond became to shallow from sedimentation, and there was an economic need to reshape its bottom. The scientists proposed the way these works could be done, with benefit for nature and for the visitors. The standard procedure was to move the mud and create artificial islands. This in itself is beneficial to birds nesting on the ground. Usually, the islands would be built as high and steep as possible. However, in the case of Polny fish pond it was agreed that the islands were designed differently, allowing some shallows for the wading birds and pioneering plants such as Coleanthus subtilis. The botanists and ornithologists from the University of Wrocław designed the pond reconstruction and the fish farm managers agreed and implemented the proposed measures.
Site visit: Ruda Sułowska
In a meeting with the executive director of the Milicz Fish Pond, the attendees could understand more about the conflicts between conservation and commercial use. One main issue is the cormorant, which breeds in large numbers around the lakes and eats many fish. Several attempts has been made to cope with the losses the cormorant causes. Today, the number can be limited to a certain extent by hunting adult birds. The number of birds is assessed by ornithologists from the Ornithological station of the Wrocław University. Here, also expert advices are rendered to balance the payments fisherman receive for facilitating acceptance of wildlife at the ponds. Yet, some motion is in this process, as fisherman begin to understand that wildlife at the ponds is also a source of income, if facilities and infrastructure for visitors and tourists are enhanced.
Site visit: ETNA Meadows
ETNA itself takes responsibility for a large area of meadows at the northern rim of the fishponds near Niezgoda. Here, the participants could easily get an idea of what the biodiversity in and around the lakes looks like. European cranes, white-tailed eagle, Montagu´s harrier and a number of other rare and, in some European countries, extinct animal and plant species could be observed.
The choice of the meadows was based on the scientific recognition of the overall situation in the Barycz Valley and wider area. The meadows belong to most important habitats in the area with breeding Snipes, Cranes, Lapwings, and in the trees on their edge, the Great grey shrike. A booming male of Bittern was heard from the reedbed stretched along the ditches. Also, the scientists suggested the conservation measures, then implemented by the volunteers and staff of Etna.