Nemunas Delta Regional Park

In order to preserve the landscape of the Nemunas Delta region, its natural ecosystem and cultural heritage values, the Nemunas Delta Regional Park was established in 1992, and its landscape is particularly rich. Its territory includes shallow bays of the Curonian Lagoon, the entire network of rivers and streams in the Nemunas Delta, oxbow lakes, Lake Krokų Lanka, the floodplain meadows of the Nemunas River’s lower course, the largest polder system in the region, the Aukštumala raised bog and other wetlands, Lithuania’s largest island Rusnė (covering an area of 46 km²), and the Ventė Cape Peninsula.

LANDSCAPE

The Nemunas Delta begins 48 km from its mouth (below Tilžė), where the Nemunas River splits into the Rusnė and Gilija branches. The Rusnė further divides into the Atmata and Skirvytė branches 13 km from its mouth (at Rusnė Island) The plain of the Nemunas Delta is bordered by the branches of the Nemunas River and the deltas of adjacent rivers, including the Minija, Šyša, Tenenys, and Leitė. As sediments accumulate steadily at the mouth of the Nemunas, the delta gradually expands and shifts toward the Curonian Lagoon. The landscape and biodiversity of the delta rivers (Minija, Atmata, Skirvytė, Rusnė, and others) can be explored by boat from Šilutė, Rusnė, Minija, or Ventė.
A lookout tower has been installed on the western shore of the lake (along the road to the village of Minija (Mingė)), offering visitors a chance to observe the unique landscape of this Lithuanian lake and its exceptionally rich birdlife.
The Nemunas Delta is one of the few places in Lithuania and Europe where large, constantly flooded swampy deciduous forest masses—habitats of European significance—can still be seen. The forest and wetland complexes are home to many rare bird species protected in Lithuania and the European Union (black stork, greater spotted eagle, common crane, Eurasian Eagle-Owl, etc.). In the meadows near Žalgiriai Forest, one of the most important breeding sites for the great snipe (a globally threatened species) has been found.
The floodplain covers an area of approximately 400 km². Seasonal floods in the Pomeranian region are typical in spring and autumn-winter. Floods most commonly occur in spring when the Nemunas overflows its banks. Spring floods in the lower Nemunas begin in late March and reach their peak 6–8 days after the river overflows its channel. Floodwaters and ice destroy embankments, inundate settlements, damage roads and shorelines, and deposit debris on fertile lands. Each year, floods cause significant damage. During major floods, more than 1,500 residents are affected, with floodwaters sometimes reaching the outskirts of Šilutė.

FLORA AND FAUNA

The Nemunas Delta and its surrounding areas are distinguished by an exceptionally high diversity of habitats as well as flora and fauna. Over 600 species of flowering plants have been recorded in the regional park, including 25 rare and endangered species listed in the Lithuanian Red Data Book. The Nemunas Delta is home to the extremely rare and endangered yellow floatingheart (Nymphoides peltata) in Lithuania. Particularly valuable plant species grow in the wet meadows and sandy grasslands surrounding the delta, many of which are found only in the Pomeranian region, such as the saltmarsh rush (Juncus gerardii), bog-myrtle (Myrica gale), sea arrowgrass (Triglochin maritimum), and others.
Among the numerous invertebrate species living in the delta, rare species of mollusks and insects have been discovered, including those listed in the Lithuanian Red Book (such as the thick shelled river mussel (Unio crassus), emperor dragonfly (Anax imperator), green hawker (Aeshna viridis), yellow-legged dragonfly (Gomphus flavipes), large white-faced darter (Leucorrhinia pectoralis), heath goldsmith ground beetle (Carabus nitens), heath ground beetle (Agonum ericeti), old world swallowtail(Papilio machaon), scarce large blue (Phengaris teleius), large heath (Coenonympha tullia), and others).

Around 50 fish species are found in the waters of the Nemunas Delta. Several rare fish species listed in the Lithuanian Red Book inhabit the Nemunas Delta and the adjacent part of the Curonian Lagoon, including the sea lamprey, Atlantic salmon, and weatherfish. The waters of the Nemunas Delta also host a few fish species that are rare in Europe, such as the river lamprey, brook lamprey, asp, ziege, amur bitterling, twaite shad, and wels catfish. The lower reaches of the Nemunas River form the most important migratory route in Lithuania for many anadromous fish species, including lampreys, salmon, sea trout, vimba bream, burbot, smelt, and others. In the delta, smelt, wels catfish, and twaite shad spawn. Pike, zander, bream, and roach spawn in the oxbow lakes, floodplain ponds, and lakes after entering them with floodwaters. The Nemunas Delta has long been renowned as a region of fishermen. This is one of the most fish-rich areas in the Baltic region. Recreational fishing in the Nemunas Delta Regional Park is allowed in accordance with recreational fishing regulations. During the spawning season, only smelt migrating from the Curonian Lagoon to rivers can be caught. Ice fishing for smelt in the Curonian Lagoon is extremely popular and attracts thousands of recreational anglers every year.

In the delta’s wetlands and waters, various species of amphibians and reptiles can be found, including rare and protected species in Lithuania such as the European fire-bellied toad and the natterjack toad. In many areas of the delta, the common grass snake can be seen, while common european adders are frequently found in the marshes.
The Nemunas Delta Regional Park is home to 50 species of mammals, 14 of which are listed in the Lithuanian Red Book. Several bat species rare in Europe have been recorded in this area, while forest habitats shelter northern birch mouse and stoat, and streams and lakes are home to otters. Beaver lodges are particularly common and can be seen throughout many parts of the delta. The forests and wetlands of the delta are a crucial refuge for moose in the Nemunas Delta region. Throughout the Nemunas Delta, including the part of the delta belonging to Russia, several wolf families reside.
However, the Nemunas Delta is most renowned as a kingdom of birds.

Over 300 bird species have been recorded in the Nemunas Delta, with around 180 species nesting in the area. The delta, along with its surrounding floodplains, marshes, and wet forests, serves as the most important breeding ground in Lithuania for many rare and endangered bird species. In the Nemunas Delta Regional Park, 58 nesting bird species are listed in the Lithuanian Red Book, and 54 species are included in the list of the most protected bird species in the European Union. This unique natural area is a breeding site for globally endangered water and wetland bird species, such as the great snipe (Gallinago media) and the aquatic warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola), with the ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca) also recorded during the breeding season. The Nemunas Delta provides crucial breeding habitats for numerous rare bird species in Lithuania, including the black-necked grebe, great bittern, greylag goose, shelduck, northern shoveler, white-tailed eagle, corncrake, oystercatcher, ruff, dunlin, little tern, black tern, eagle-owl, bearded tit, and many others.

Nemunas Delta Regional Park is one of the most important sites in Europe for migrating water birds.
This unique area is home to the internationally important migratory migratory eared grebes, great white herons, song swans, little swans, white-crowned godwits, greylag, white-fronted and greylag and greylag geese, and cypress, resting and feeding areas for grey, pintail, spoon-billed, brown-headed and tufted ducks, waders, great and lesser black-backed gulls, common and lesser spotted gulls, terns, cranes, little gulls, black terns, and other waterbirds.

The floodplain meadows of the Regional Park are among the most important resting sites for whooper swans in Europe. Every year, between March and April, up to 4,000 whooper swans, which breed in the European tundra, gather there. Their loud “trumpeting” calls can be heard in many parts of the delta. The wet meadows surrounding the delta are also among the most important resting sites in Europe for white-fronted and greylag geese. During major spring floods, enormous flocks of white-fronted geese can be observed stopping over on their way to breeding grounds in the Arctic tundra, with up to 100,000 birds counted. During spring migration, the largest flocks in Lithuania of migrating Eurasian wigeons, garganeys, northern pintails, northern shovelers, and mallards, as well as common pochards, are regularly recorded in the delta.
The shallow waters, sandy islands, and surrounding wet meadows of the delta are among the most significant resting sites for migrating wading birds in the Baltic region. In recent years, very large flocks of northern lapwings (up to 11,000 birds), ruffs (up to 8,000), little stints (up to 500), and other waders have been observed there.
At the end of summer (July–August), flocks of black terns can be observed in the delta. This is the only place in Lithuania where up to 15,000 of these rare European birds gather annually.

The Nemunas Delta is one of the most important resting places in Europe for migrating pochards and tufted ducks. In recent years, around 40,000 pochards and up to 50,000 tufted ducks have been observed there during autumn migration.
In 1993, the Nemunas Delta Regional Park was recognized as an internationally significant area for migrating birds under the Ramsar Convention criteria. In 2004, a Natura 2000 site, part of the European Union’s network of protected natural areas, was established within the park.

The largest waterbird and key habitat conservation program, “Wings Over Water,” run by the United Nations Environment Programme and other international environmental organizations, is being implemented in the Nemunas Delta Regional Park. The program’s goal is to preserve the most important wintering and stopover sites for migrating waterbirds along the entire migration route in the Western Palearctic, including the Nemunas Delta.
In spring, large flocks of migrating waterbirds attract birdwatching enthusiasts. The largest gatherings of migrating swans, geese, and ducks in the Nemunas Delta can be observed in March and April in floodplain meadows at the Rupkalviai and Žalgiriai ornithological reserves (near the Šilutė–Rusnė road), the Sausgalviai ornithological reserve (near Sausgalviai village), the southern part of Rusnė Island, the Minija oxbow botanical-zoological reserve, and other areas of the delta.
From August to October, large flocks of migrating waterbirds can be observed at the Kintai fish ponds, from observation platforms and birdwatching towers near Lake Krokų Lanka, Ventė Cape, Rusnė Island, and along the Aukštumala and Pakalnė nature trails. However, the greatest diversity of bird species can be seen by boat near Kniaupo Bay, Lake Krokų Lanka, and the sand islets formed at the mouth of the Atmata River.
In October, birdwatchers are invited to the annual “Farewell to Departing Birds” event in the Pamarys region and the traditional “Bird Rally”, a birdwatching competition for both amateurs and professionals.

Visitors are invited to learn about bird migration at the Ventė Cape Ornithological Station, part of the Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological Museum. The station features a small museum where visitors can explore the history of bird ringing, bird migration research, and the unique birdlife of the Nemunas Delta.
Ventė Cape is a crucial stopover site for migrating birds. On some days, up to 300,000 birds pass through this area. In 1929, Professor Tadas Ivanauskas established the Ventė Cape Bird Ringing Station, making it one of the oldest bird ringing stations in the world.
In recent decades, the station has been equipped with the largest bird traps in the world, measuring 60 meters wide and 25 meters high, as well as modern “zigzag” traps. These traps were designed by Leonas Jezerskas, the station’s long-time director.
Since its founding, the Ventė Cape Ornithological Station has ringed approximately 2 million birds from 226 different species. More than 95% of all ringed birds have been small passerines, including starlings, great tits, barn swallows, and others.
In recent years, the station has received 300–400 reports annually about birds ringed at Ventė Cape, with sightings coming from various European, Asian, and African countries.

Information from the Nemunas Delta Regional Park
More information: www.nemunodelta.lt, www.saugoma.lt