Just south of Juodkrantė is Lithuania’s largest colony of grey herons and cormorants, observed here since the 19th century. Wooden steps lead from the road to a viewing platform where the panorama of thousands of nests amid pine trees – not to mention the noise of the 6500-strong colony – is astonishing. Fisherman blame the cormorants in particular for reduced catches, but both species are protected.
Cormorants arrive in early February (herons a little later) to pick and rebuild their nests. By May chicks are screaming for food. Starlings, thrushes, warblers, and grey, spotted and black woodpeckers can also be seen here.
