bicycle trip Forest steppe – a hidden gem at Danube

Saturday, April 5, 2014

bicycle birdwatching trip C2

Our April bicycle trip will be targeted on Biskupické luhy floodplain forests and upper parts of Hrušovská zdrž water reservoir, also known as Kalinkovská zátoka. In the first part of our trip we will make a few stops to observe waterbirds on Danube. Beside newly arrived breeding birds we will have a chance to see also waders or ducks on their migration. On return journey we will visit unique floodplain forests that grew up on the places where the Danube River slows its flow. As a result we can find here remnants of old river-arms. In this area Danube accumulated large gravel sediments. In the past Biskupické rameno river-arm flowed around Kopáč Island, where the sediments created unique subbase. Not more than 1 km away from contemporary course of Danube, in the heart of floodplain forest, you can find unusual forest steppe. Ostrov Kopáč Natural Reserve is a home of several xerophilous species of plants and insects. Maybe we will spot Woodlark singing over the dry meadow or European Oil Beetle under our feet. Join us if you want to discover this unique contrast landscape not very far away from Bratislava.

Meeting place and time: 9:00 am, parking place at Prístavná ulica

Trip length: 5 – 6 hours (9:00 am – 3:00 pm)

Route and terrain: easy, terrain plain, length approx. 28 km; route will lead mostly on a bicycle path, approx. 4,5 km on dirt road

Participant fee optional. We provide binoculars, guide for determining birds and a spotting scope to the participants.