Bird-watching towers

When cycling or hiking along the coastal paths in the area from Nida to Pervalka, people are able to visit the six bird-watching towers that are located in the picturesque horns of the spit (Bulvikis, Ožkai, pervalka, Žirgų) and bays (Bulvikis, Karvaičiai).

Bird-watching towers on map

Routes
By the seaside: Preila-Pervalka, Juodkrantė – Alksnynė (in August and September, the common sandpiper migrates; in November and March, sea birds can be seen).
By the seaside: Pervalka – Preila (water birds during their nesting and migration times).

Migration ruote

Above the Curonian Spit runs one of the most important bird routes to and from Northern Europe, called the White-Baltic Migration Route. Bird watching is a very popular activity all over the Western world among amateurs who spend a lot of time in nature and are interested in its phenomena. One area of bird monitoring is the identification and numbering of migratory birds. This requires a good knowledge of the birds in terms of their appearance and the sounds they make. Many flying birds can only be identified by their voices. It is necessary to have good optical devices: binoculars, telescopes, digital cameras, as well as a modern manual, i. a special book about birds.

Migration monitoring site

It is most comvenient to observe bird migration from high hills or dunes, from bird-watching towers, or in a completely open area, such as the seaside or wide fields. The Curonian Spit meets all the requirements for bird watching. Recently, the Parnidis dune, the highest dune near Nida has become especially popular for this purpose. In spring, the first migrating birds reach Lithuania as early as in the beginning of March, while the last migrating birds fly to their nesting places in the North only at the end of May. Even more birds can be seen during autumn migration from August to November. During this time, flocks flying to wintering grounds are joined by chicks that were hatched in the summer. There are very few places in Northern and Central Europe where people are able to see such a large number of migrating birds as in the Curonian Spit. The narrow spit brings birds close together for their flight over this strip of land and allows observers to see all of them in abundance. Many species of birds have been recorded here, some of which even fly to the far North or winter to Africa.

Variety of Migrating Birds

During an active autumn migration, up to half a million birds can be seen going to the South. Tens of thousands of finches, pipits, starlings, Eurasian skylarks, Eurasian siskins, sparrows, swallows, and common wood pigeons are constantly being monitored during the migration season. It is also possible to count up to a thousand birds every day, attracting flocks of geese, ducks and swans. Flocks of geese, ducks and swans are leaving. In early spring, typical migrants in daytime are cranes, lapwings, curlews, buzzards and small songbirds. Bird watchers are usually delighted by the rare species. The Curonian Spit is a place where people are able to see even such rare birds as the falcon passenger, the red falcon, the brown falcon or the rose starling.