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The Ornithological Collection Metković The history of the research
Ornithological collection The biggest
Croatian delta is today mostly improved and dried out. The changes in the
ecological system of the swamp influenced considerately the diversity and
number of bird species. The tradition of hunting, which has been an
essential feature of seasonal living (and it meant survival for many
families in the past), influenced the decrease of the importance of the
delta as a migratory route of birds. That is why the collection that was
made in the period from 1948-1966 is a special document of nature. In
Neretva 310 bird kinds have been so far noted. Of that total 218 birds
are in the collection, and the collection has more than 340 stuffed birds.
In the relatively small area of the Ornithological collection the birds are
grouped according to their residence and they give an insight into the once
abundant life in the swamps, swampy groves, coppices, reeds, rocky ground
and improved and cultivated areas. The importance of Neretva becomes clear
after the multitude of ringed birds can be spotted in winter or
There are some rare examples in the Collection, birds that don't live here, preparations of accidental guests from the far north: lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus), shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), northern eider (Somateria mollisima), and yellow billed swan (Cygnus sygnus). From the east came to Neretva also pink pelican (Pelecanus oncrotalus). From the western Mediterranean wandered purple gallinule (Porphyrio porphyrio).
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The first
news about the wealth in Neretva was reported to us by the Roman
writer Katon. Centuries later, only incidentally, numerous travelers
mentioned the abundance of fish and birds, but also like the Italian doctor
G. Pujati in 1747 they described the difficulties of living in this
area, due to malaria which he called 'de morbo naroniano'. The
interest of European biologists for this to them exotic part of the world
arose with the Austrian rule. After E. F. Germaro, F. Neumayer
and K.v. Feldegg also came to this area. According to the
preparation from Feldegg's collection curly pelican (Dalmatian
pelican, Pelecanus crispus) was for the first time scientifically
described and until then it had been an unknown species. The eggs that were
taken by J.A. Finger are still kept in the Natural history museum
in Vienna, and they are the only proof that that species used to nest in
Neretva, because that was the first bird which moved away after the
first river regulations and land improvements. The first list containing 212
bird kinds was published the Italian physician F. Laza in 1842. Lots
of European and domestic natural-historians visited Neretva up to the
First World War and they wrote about its fauna. Some of the domestic natural
historians were Kuzmić, Kolombatović and fra A. Brandis.
The whole living world of Neretva was studied so that the unique bird
residence wouldn't be destroyed with big changes due to the river
regulation. Unfortunately stormy historical events frustrated the plans. The
interest for Neretva was revived after the Second World War, when the
young ornithology-lover D. Rucner came. The friendships that he made
in Neretva induced the foundation of the Ornithological collection
for which he did most of the prepared birds. His long-lasting fertile work
was documented in a series of articles in the 'Larus' magazine and in
the full edition of 'On the life of birds in Neretva valley', where
he described their residence in details, their number and diversity and his
views about the environment protection
during the
spring and autumn migration: great white egret (Egretta alba), eagle
(Aqula heliaca), pintail (Anas acuta), widgeon (Anas
penelope), tern (Sterna sandvicensis), swallow (Hirundo
rustica), sand-martin (Riparia riparia), reed bunting (Emberiza
schoeniclus). Herons can also be seen in the Collection of the birds
and they stopped being nesting birds after 1963: little egret (Egretta
garzetta), purple heron (Ardea purpurea), squacco heron
(Ardeola ralloides) and rook (Nycticorax nycticorax).
There are also two especially endangered European species, bittern (Botarus
stallaris) and ferruginous duck (Aythia nyroco), and
bald coot (Fulica atra), the traditional hunting game in
Neretva. Two migratory stork species- stork (Ciconia ciconia)
and black stork (C. nigra) are also interesting. Both species are
endangered in Europe and their number has slowly increased due to the strict
protection. The same goes for crane (Grus grus) who flies over
the Neretva delta already at the end of February. So far more than
110 kinds of migratory birds are known that rest in Neretva in order
to endure the exhausting migrations, especially numerous are different
kinds of ducks, herons, terns, harriers, stints, trills and sandpipers and
of singing birds various flycatchers. The bird that is endangered in Europe
stone curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) rarely makes a stop here,
as well as golden crow (Coracias garrulus) that is rare in the
swampy woods of Croatia. The rocks and cliffs are the residence of a big
number of petrophile kinds such as raven (Corvus corax),
Alpine chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus). The biggest predatory
bird of this area had its residence in the rocks – the dark eagle (Aquila
chrysaetos). Only some sixty pairs nest today in Croatia. Among the
preparations is one of the most endangered falcons in Europe- lanner (Falco
biarmicus). The biggest European eagle owl (Bubo bubo)
dwells today in the rocky area with thick macchia. At the mouth of the river
Neretva griffon vultures (Gups falvus) were spotted,
and they flew over this area in search of carrions. The closest nesting area
of these birds is on the cliffs of the nearby Herzegowina. In the remaining
of the swampy groves and poplar and ash coppices nest many birds, among
which the green woodpecker (Picus viridis) and great spotted
woodpecker and lesser spotted woodpecker (Picoides maior,
P.minor) have their last stronghold in the Adriatic. Titmoses (Panurus
biarmicus) also nest in the reeds and it is one of their last
European dwellings
