Continental Wetlands & Rivers
Despite being a largely forested country, Slovenia has also some excellent wetland sites. Most wetlands are continental, with only a few lying on the country’s short stretch of coast. Certainly the most famous and interesting is the temporary karstic lake (or “turlough”) of Cerknica, in the Notranjska region. This place has an exceptional biodiversity due to its varied landscapes with lake, reedbeds, wet meadows, channels, forest and farmland. Being temporary, the lake is full of water only after heavy rainfall (usually in autumn and spring). Northeastern, lowland Slovenia has many interesting freshwater wetlands, typical of the Pannonian region. Although most of the lakes, marshes and reservoirs in the Štajerska region are man-made, they are extremely rich in birds and other wildlife and include areas such as Ptuj and Ormož lakes, the Medvedce reservoir, the Ormož, Rače and Vrbje fishponds. Wetlands are a real paradise for birds either for breeding, wintering or as stop-over sites during migration.
Most famous and charismatic species :
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus
Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia
River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis
Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
Bewick's Swan Cygnus columbianus
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus
Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis
White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus
Marsh Frog Pelophylax ridibundus
Edible Frog Pelophylax esculentus
European Tree Frog Hyla arborea
Yellow-bellied Toad Bombina variegata
Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris
Northern Crested Newt Triturus cristatus
Fire Salamander Salamandra atra
Common Spadefoot Pelobates fuscus
Fire-bellied Toad Bombina bombina
Danube Crested Newt Triturus dobrogicus
Italian Crested Newt Triturus carnifex
Italian Agile Frog Rana latastei
European Pond Terrapin Emys orbicularis
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
Marbled Trout Salmo marmoratus
White-clawed Crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes
Stone Crayfish Austropotamobius torrentium
European Crayfish Astacus astacus
