BWE: Face to face with the biggest european Mammal

There are very few places left in Europe, to watch the European Bison (Bison bonasus bonasus). Białowieża Forest in NE-Poland is surely the most famous. However just about 80 years ago, it was the only place in the world to watch this animal in the wild. During First World War, all bisons living in the wild had been killed. Thanks to a captive breeding programme, it was possible to perpetuate the species. First animals from this programe were released in Białowieża Forest.

Today, the forest is home for about 600 bisons. You will easily find the tracks on the paths as well as faeces (which are home to Geotrupes mutator – a dung beetle).

This beetle lives in bison faeces.

It is very difficult to see the bisons themselves and you need some luck! During a visit last year, I found four bulls on a meadow. It is really impressive to be face to face with this animal. The bulls are up to 1.90 m high, 3 m long and weigh up to 900 kg.

If they are approaching, you should try to leave very fast…

Four bulls, photographed in Białowieża Forest

Four bulls, photographed in Białowieża Forest

Four bulls, photographed in Białowieża Forest

Four bulls, photographed in Białowieża Forest

Four bulls, photographed in Białowieża Forest

Four bulls, photographed in Białowieża Forest

BWE: Photographing the elusive Hazel Grouse

Did you ever try to find a Hazel Grouse? Probably not… I can tell stories about this search – it is one of the most difficult birds to find in Middle Europe! If you just want to watch the bird for some seconds, you should schedule some days – and there is no guaranty that it works.

I already tried it in 2010 for five days in the Bavarian Forest – but I just got poor photos.

As I like Grouses I tried once more to photograph them. In April, I was lucky enough to finally get photos of a Hazel Grouse pair in Poland.

The cock has a very strange song. I took sound recordings of the bird in the photographs – if you want to listen to it, click here. It is the high whistling – you will recognize it!

In the trees, it tries to hide behind branches

This is a typical view of a Hazel Grouse. Can you see it? It is almost frame filling…

On the ground, it is very observant

The cock takes care of the hen. It is observant while the hen is feeding.

This was without doubt the best sighting of a Hazel Grouse I ever had

Beautiful Wild Europe (BWE) – The project

Thailand, USA, Australia, New Zealand… some typical holiday destinations for many people. It is hip to go there, to be able to talk with the others who have been there. Reasons to visit these countries are often the amazing landscape and nature. At the same time, few people are aware of the beautiful wilderness in Europe, of the breathtaking landscapes, of the very special animals and the beautiful flowers.

For this reason, I thought about a project for a long time: I want to show this beauty, to make people aware, that it is not really necessary to travel always that far. To show that the beautiful places are right in front of our door or not far away. And to show, what we lost already and what we will loose, if we proceed in our way of life.

Within the scope of this project, I will present different areas in Europe, special animals or plants or just special places. I already started with some posts – and I will proceed.

Maybe, you get inspired by these places and next time, it is not Vietnam but the Balkan you travel to!

 

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