Luknajno or Luknajny - a lake located about 5 km from Mikolajki, in the Warmian-Masurian province, in the Land of Great Masurian Lakes. It is one of the most important european waterfowl sanctuaries. * The lake's shoreline is poorly developed, lacking bays and peninsulas. The shores are inaccessible, waterlogged, overgrown with reeds and wet meadows. The western shore of the lake is flat and marshy, while the northern and northeastern shores are slightly hilly. On the northern shore of the lake lies the village of Urwitałt in which the Prof. Kazimierz Dobrowolski Field Station of the University of Warsaw is located. The station is the only inhabited facility in the village of Urwitałt. * The abundance of aquatic vegetation and fish, combined with the inaccessibility of the flat, marshy and partially wooded shores, makes this area can be called without exaggeration a " bird paradise". The lake has been known for decades as an exceptional habitat for the mute swan (Cygnus olor) - about 2,000 individuals, coots (Fulica atra) - about 17,000 individuals, and helminths (Netta rufina) - about 900 individuals. The following grebes are also numerous: great crested grebes, red-breasted grebes, puffins and grebes. Among wading birds, we should mention the aquatic warbler, water cockatoo, spotted hen, from herons: bittern, little bittern and gray heron. A rare species is the whiskered warbler nesting in the reeds. Due to the abundance of fish, white-tailed eagles, ospreys, red kites, cormorants and black terns are frequent visitors. * About 175 other species of marsh and waterfowl have also been counted, and 95 are permanent residents. The remaining 80 species are migratory birds that take advantage of the abundant food supply during migration or birds that winter at the lake.
admin - 06.12.2007
