Join South Bohemian Ornithologists for an Exciting Summer Birdwatching Adventure
The research conducted by since 1976 the Natural History Department of the Prácheň Museum in Písek started under the guidance of RNDr. Karel Pecl and has been overseen by RNDr. Jiří Šebestian since 2002. The goal of this bird trapping and ringing event is to monitor the bird population over a long period in one of the most significant National Nature Reserves in the Czech Republic for birds. During this study, more than 40,000 birds from 112 different species have been caught, measured, weighed, and thoroughly examined.
When visiting Rezabinets, you might encounter one of the reed eaters, which is how this event got its name; you might also catch sight of a black-headed warbler. It’s particularly exciting if you manage to capture a nightingale or a icefish river lamprey; getting a raptor or an owl would be considered incredibly lucky. Regardless, almost every visit provides the chance to see and photograph fascinating birds up close and chat with experts about various interesting aspects.
In feathered birds, a gentle approach is used to examine fat reserves, overall fitness, moulting patterns, or feather wear. Changes in the number of species over the years and in different habitats are also monitored. It’s essential to recapture birds that were previously ringed to observe changes in wing length and tail size.
Ornithologists study factors like sex, age, and moulting
Camp of ornithologists is open for visitors daily from 7am to 7pm; the morning hours are the best time to see birds active. Professionals welcome anyone interested in nature, whether you’re a beginner or have advanced birdwatching skills. The early morning is the prime time to visit when bird activity peaks. The total area has 222 metres of mist nets set up. Once captured, each bird is brought to the camp, where experts collect detailed observations about each one, including its ringing, health status, fat reserves, likely gender and age, degree of pecking, and more.
Researchers might even take you along to help collect the nets, which are arranged across 13 permanent locations reflecting three distinct habitats. Common captures include reed warblers, black-headed warblers, singing reed warblers, and foamflowers. Among the more exciting species expected this year are blue warblers, common nightingales, great reed warblers, cricket warblers, and kingfishers; this spring, for example, a white Grove was found in the nets at Rezabinets. With some luck, you might even find water, quail, or some smaller birds of prey or owl caught in the nets. Regardless, nearly every visit is filled with the chance to observe and photograph unique birds from a close distance and learn fascinating details from experts.
The Acrocephalus Ringing Event is open to the public and aims to promote the Rezabinec Reserve, the conservation of birds, and a better scientific understanding of nature. Importantly, it also helps in training young aspiring ringers and future biologists – many of today’s professional ornithologists in South Bohemia began with this Acrocephalus event, and many continue to return here. Accessing the camp requires walking – if you’re driving, you need to turn off at Razic before the railway crossing on the right and park your vehicle at the bastion at the road’s end. Then, follow the nature trail alongside the edge of the Řežabinec pond, pass the observation tower, and after about 200 metres, you will reach the ornithologists’ camp.
