Czech Birdlife Support

Etours Travel is proud to support Josefov Meadows birding conservation project organized and managed by the Czech Society for Ornithology (CSO) www.birdlife.cz

Czech Society for Ornithology (CSO), BirdLife Partner in the Czech Republic, is currently working on the preparation of the first ornithological park in the Czech Republic. From its foundation in 1926 CSO was primarily focused on the research, but through the years also other activities including active participation in the site and species protection and promotion of the bird issues among public became integral part of the CSO work. Creation of the CSO’s own nature reserve will conclude most of these approaches.

Josefov Meadows www.josefovskelouky.cz represents 76 ha of cultivated meadows with scattered vegetation among three watercourses accessible only by three bridges. It is a part of the 100 years old irrigation system that has been more than 20 km long and allowed controlled flooding of meadows for the production of hay. Fully functioning, it will allow controlled flooding of the site to create the ideal breeding conditions for wetland birds and an important stopover for migrating birds too. This will also provide the right conditions for rare flowers, amphibians and other animals. Restoration of the irrigation system is not the only planned activity on the site. Project team wants to improve living conditions of amphibians and waders also by creation of the small pools or reproduction of the White Stork and Kingfisher by building of the artificial nesting sites. CSO's goal is to gradually purchase all the land.

Project of CSO is innovatory in its achievement – it is one of the first projects when technical structure is going to be repaired mainly for the nature protection purposes instead of economic ones. CSO will use the site to demonstrate biodiversity friendly farming practices, water conservation, bird monitoring and research.

CSO and ETOURS TRAVEL designed special birding trip to visit Josefov Meadows and surrounding area as well nearby Orlicke Mountains. Please visit our Eastern Bohemia Birding Trip web page.

Thank you for the participation at Etours Travel birding trips. Thank you for your support of Josefov Meadows birding conservation project!