Matsalu National Park

Matsalu National Park

Matsalu National Park in western Estonia is a birdwatcher's paradise. Millions of migratory birds fly through or stay to nest here every year. The best birding season is from April to mid-May and from September to the end of October. However, birds aren't the only winged creatures, the wetlands are home to many species of butterflies and dragonflies. Besides the mainland, Matsalu includes 50 islands and shoals. After the Ice Age, the land slowly emerged from the sea, and the people who had lived on the coast made a living from cattle farming, creating a landscape rich in meadows. The continuous grazing of cattle preserves the biodiversity of the area, since local species rely on these open pastures. One of the park's most exciting attractions is the largest floodplain meadow in northern Europe, which is a major nesting site for the Corn Crake. From the birdwatching towers, you can listen to the melodious song of the warblers coming from the reeds at the mouth of the Kasari River. Organized boat trips or canoe trips can get even closer to the birds. In Matsalu, 282 bird species were recorded, of which 175 were nesting and 33 migratory waterfowl. The reserve has 49 species of fish and 47 species of mammals, as well as 772 species of vascular plants. Every spring, more than two million waterfowl migrate through the area, including 10 000-20 000 Bewick's Swans, 10 000 Greater Scaups, Common Goldeneyes, Tufted Ducks, goosanders and many others. In the spring, up to 20 000 Barnacle Geese, more than 10 000 Greylag Geese and thousands of waders stop in the coastal pastures.