Dawn chorus near the gravel pit chapel

This lake is a water filled former gravel pit - one of many that operated along the valley of the river Opava until about 20 years ago. This extraction industry, in combination with excessive chemical use in the surrounding agricultural areas, caused long term damage to the local environment and ecology. More recently the policy has changed and attempts to repair and restore some of the unique wetland ecologies in the area have had some notable successes. The bird song at this location is perhaps evidence of this in that the May dawn chorus was impressively rich. This track features mostly blackcaps, blackbirds, a chiffchaff and distance geese. But many other woodland and wetland species from golden orioles and black woodpeckers to common terns were heard nearby.