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[edit] Overview

In the far east of Austria on the border to Slovakia, this WWF reserve is part of an extremely important area of near-natural riverine and flood-plain forest, a habitat that has become much reduced throughout Europe. This complex of often flooded woodlands and open meadows, backwaters and marshes is the largest stretch of such habitat remaining in Austria and is home to a wide range of birds. The reserve is known for being the westernmost spot where White Stork use natural nests in trees; all storks west of here use nests in connection with buildings.

[edit] Birds

[edit] Notable Species

Wetland species include Little Bittern, various herons and both storks, crakes and waders. The woodlands are home to five species of owl and seven woodpeckers as well as many other species. Raptors include harriers, Lesser Spotted Eagle and breeding Saker Falcon as well as wintering White-tailed Eagle.

[edit] Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

Great Cormorant, Little Bittern, Black-crowned Night Heron, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Black Stork, White Stork, Eurasian Spoonbill, Western Honey-Buzzard, Red Kite, Black Kite, White-tailed Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Montagu's Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Northern Hobby, Saker Falcon, Common Quail, Corn Crake, Black-tailed Godwit, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Ural Owl, Long-eared Owl, Tengmalm's Owl, Common Kingfisher, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Syrian Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Thrush Nightingale, Fieldfare, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Eurasian River Warbler, Savi's Warbler, Barred Warbler, Collared Flycatcher, European Pied Flycatcher, Eurasian Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Red-backed Shrike, Hooded Crow, European Serin, Hawfinch

[edit] Other Wildlife

The area is also botanically important with the rare water chestnut growing in the ponds and over 600 sp of moths and butterflies have been recorded on the reserve.

[edit] Site Information

[edit] History and Use

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[edit] Areas of Interest

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[edit] Access and Facilities

This 800ha reserve is situated close to the northern end of the village of Marchegg, 40km to the north-east of Vienna, about an hour by road from Vienna on Route 49.

[edit] Contact Details

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[edit] External Links

• Marchegg Visitor Information: English Translation
• Marchegg on Google Maps

Content and images originally posted by Steve