Sandy nesting sites for sand martins and kingfishers are ready!

BESTbelt project restores nesting walls for sand martins and common kingfishers along the Mura and Drava rivers.

Almost all rivers in Europe are heavily regulated and their natural flow and ecological processes are severely and often negatively affected. This affects species (including fish, birds and amphibians) that depend on natural river ecosystems. 

The sand martin and the common kingfisher are species that require vertical sand walls for nesting, in which they dig a nest tunnel. These species often lose their nesting sites due to the restriction of river processes. DOPPS-BirdLife Slovenia, together with many volunteers, organises annual volunteer work to prepare nesting walls for sand martins and common kingfishers along the Mura and Drava rivers.

This year's work on the Mura River was carried out together with Međimurska priroda as part of the BESTbelt project "Sustainable Water-based Sport Solutions". Zavod RS za varstvo narave and volunteers also took part. 

The nesting walls are now ready and everyone is eagerly awaiting the return of the sand martins and kingfishers.

 

You can read more about the BESTbelt project “Sustainable water-based sports solutions in Slovenia and Croatia” here.

 

To learn more about the event, you can reach out to: srsa(at)medjimurska-priroda.info