The kingfisher (Sterna hirundo) is a species of the kingfisher family, also classified as a seagull, which regularly flies through the Turiec basin during migration. During the construction of the motorway in the section Dubná skala – Trusalová, several suitable locations were gradually created, interesting for the river fisherman.
In the past, occasionally isolated pairs also nested on the old riverbed of the Váh River in the section Krpeľany – Lipovec, but mostly unsuccessfully, as the flows in the Váh riverbed are very unstable – fluctuating and therefore the nests or hatchlings were often destroyed by torrential water. However, it is different on the earthworks of the aforementioned section Dubná Skala – Trusalová. The birds reacted to the newly created conditions in a relatively short time and regularly nest here. https://npvelkafatra.sk/rybar-riecny-pravidelny-hniezdic-uz-aj-v-turci/
Last year, 7-10 pairs of river terns nested on one of the dug earthworks (gravel pits), so we are extremely pleased that the colony is slowly growing and for the area of Turiec and the competence area of the Veľká Fatra National Park Administration , this means – a stable nesting site.
The species mainly uses open gravel benches and islands, which, however, gradually change. They are overgrown with self-seeding, fast-growing trees such as willows, birches and alders. With excessive overgrowth of gravel islands, nesting opportunities that suit the kingfisher also disappear.
That is why we decided to clean the island this year, before the nesting season itself, and thus again create suitable nesting conditions for the mentioned species. With the help of brushcutters, hoes, pickaxes, saws and a good mood, we removed the maximum amount of unwanted biomass. The fishermen will soon return from their wintering grounds and the island awaits them ready. During this unique route, they cover more than 10,000 km! Therefore, we are impatiently waiting for them every day and we firmly believe that this year there will be a little more of them nesting in our country – than the previous one.
Text: Ing. Juraj Žiak
The following participated in the management: Andrej Súľovský, Július Schestág, Patrik Fischer Sr., Patrik Fischer Jr., Pavol Slávik and Juraj Žiak.
