Two centuries ago, the Obedska Bara marsh was said to be the paradise for birds. It was a famous ornithology reserve, while today it is a special nature reserve, spreading on 12 thousand hectares, located 50km from Belgrade. It is a swampy wooded area on the banks of the Sava River, and according to naturalists its greatest value is the complex of ponds, bogs, swamp vegetation, marshes and damp forests, where some of the endangers species grow. By the fall, prior to heading off south, the numbers go to hundreds of thousands, and naturalists say in that period 220 various birds species can be seen here. More than a half of those are rare and endangered. It might be interesting to note that as far back as in 1874, right after the Yellowstone Park in USA, the Obedska Bara was given the status of a protected natural reserve.
Obedska Bara A vast area of flood plain forest stretching along the River Sava in southern Srem. The site is a complex of willow, poplar and oak forest, wet meadows and stagnant waters of oxbow lakes and marshes. Best access is from the village of Obrez. Some of the 220 bird species of this area are Little Bittern, Black Stork, Black Kite, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Saker Falcon, Spotted Crake, Little Crake, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Syrian Woodpecker, Savi’s Warbler and Collared Flycatcher. Mammals of the area include beaver and otter.
In terms of biodiversity, the Balkan Peninsula is recognized as one of Europe’s finest birding regions. Within it, Serbia compares well with already established birding destinations like neighbouring Hungary or Bulgaria, as it has a greater diversity of habitats and birds than Hungary and a better infrastructure than Bulgaria.Serbia is poised to provide the traveller with an exciting birding experience.
The number of bird species recorded in Serbia is 360 species. In recent years, 239 bird species were recorded breeding in Serbia (123 non-passerines and additional 116 passerines), quite a few of them increasing their breeding ranges: Black-headed Bunting, Cetti’s Warbler, Red-rumped Swallow, Black Redstart, etc.
Significant percentages of European populations of Saker Falcon, Little Bittern, Purple Heron, Ferruginous Duck, Scops Owl, Middle Spotted and Syrian Woodpeckers, to mention but a few, breed in Serbia. Among the breeding birds, there are 103 species of European conservation concern (SPECs), which include six species of global conservation concern: Ferruginous Duck, Egyptian Vulture, Imperial Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Great Bustard and Corncrake.
Some of the 220 bird species of this area are Little Bittern, Black Stork, Black Kite, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Saker Falcon, Spotted Crake, Little Crake, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Syrian Woodpecker, Savi’s Warbler and Collared Flycatcher. Mammals of the area include beaver and otter.
In terms of biodiversity, the Balkan Peninsula is recognized as one of Europe’s finest birding regions. Within it, Serbia compares well with already established birding destinations like neighbouring Hungary or Bulgaria, as it has a greater diversity of habitats and birds than Hungary.
