European Bird Watching Days under way across Latvia, with a walk in Kurmene and a goose-watching evening in Tukums
European Bird Watching Days are taking place across Latvia on October 3–4, with events in Kurmene, Salaspils and Tukums municipality. Observations can be logged on the Dabasdati.lv portal until Sunday noon.
Latvia is marking European Bird Watching Days today and tomorrow, according to Kitija Balcare, communications specialist at the Latvian Ornithological Society (LOB). In Bauska municipality, residents are invited to gather at 9am on Sunday, October 4, by the Kurmene parish administration building for a guided bird walk. Participants are advised to dress for the weather and bring binoculars if possible. Organisers ask people to register in advance by email, as the programme may change depending on conditions.
Events elsewhere in Latvia
Other activities are taking place around the country. At the National Botanic Garden in Salaspils, the "Botania" nature centre is hosting a reading of bird-themed fairy tales from 11am today. At the "Meža māja" information centre in Kemeri National Park, a touring exhibition from the Latvian Museum of Natural History about swans is open both days from 10:30am, showcasing the lifestyle and habits of swans found in Latvia; a specialist talk on the subject takes place today at noon.
On Sunday evening from 6pm, nature lovers are invited to Dunduri meadows in Tukums municipality for a "Goose Evening," where a nature specialist will guide visitors through sunset and the sounds of the wild pastures within Kemeri National Park. The main event will be flocks of migrating geese flying relatively low over the meadows on their way to roost for the night on the small lakes of the Great Kemeri Bog. The Nature Conservation Agency notes that this year's pygmy owl might also be spotted during the evening.
Public invited to report sightings
LOB is encouraging everyone to watch birds not only at organised events but also individually or with family and friends, reporting sightings of migratory birds on the Dabasdati.lv portal until 2pm on Sunday. Ieva Vavilova, LOB representative and Bird Days coordinator, says bird watching is an accessible way to slow down and ease everyday stress. Information about events across Latvia is available on Putnudienas.lv.
Last year, around 20 such events in Latvia drew at least 361 participants, who together recorded more than 25,000 birds representing 134 species. The autumn watching days are part of the international EuroBirdwatch initiative, launched in 1993 and organised by BirdLife International, represented in Latvia by LOB in cooperation with the Nature Conservation Agency.
