Bird watching and Hiking Trails .
The Ilmatsalu-Kärevere birdwatching trail has been developed over 5.2 kilometres for walking, bicycling, skiing and and horsebackriding. There are 5 resting places along the trail for making fire and having a picnic.
The birdwatching trail joins some of Tartu County’s most interesting birding areas into a chain, the links of which are the Ilmatsalu fish ponds, Kärevere bird protection area and Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve. The trail offers surprises for visitors at all times of the year. The best time to observe birds here is during thespring flooding, when large flocks of bean and White - fronted Greese, Whooper and Bewick´s Swans and Ducks inhabit the water - logged area. After flooding, the muddy flats become attractive for waders.Wood sandpipers, Ruffs and Lawpings are most numerous among them, but it is also possible to see some rare species, like Jack Snipes. Altogether 120 species of birds have been registered breeding in the area. The lush aquatic vegetation of fishponds attracts the Swans, Ducks, grebes and Bitterrns.Coots are very numerous, Water Rails, Moorhens and Spotted Crakes common and even Little Crake present. The ownwers of the ponds have problems with birds, especially White-tailed Eagle and Gray heron, catching fish from the ponds.The Ospreys, Cormorants, Kingfishers and Black Storkes visit the ponds less regularly.
Pictures: Remo Savisaar and Urmas Tartes
