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Rusanda Nature Reserve

Banat, Vojvodina  >  Serbia

The Nature Park Rusanda covers Rusanda salt lake with the surrounding meadow-steppe and wetland habitats, as well as the park of 'Rusanda Spa'.

Added* by Mileta Čeković
Most recent update 2 Δεκεμβρίου 2025

Description

The Rusanda Nature Park is characterized by significant biodiversity of plants and animals, predominantly birds. The area is dominated by the Rusanda salt lake which attracts many shorebirds, especially during migration seasons, including (Ευρασιατική) Τουρλίδα, Σιγλίγουρος, Καλαμοκανάς, (Ευρωπαϊκή) Αβοκέτα, (Ευρωπαϊκή) Λιμόζα, Μαχητής, Λασποσκαλίδρα, Δρεπανοσκαλίδρα, (Κοινή) Νανοσκαλίδρα, Λευκοσκαλίδρα, Αμμοσφυριχτής, Ποταμοσφυριχτής, Αργυροπούλι, and (Ευρωπαϊκό) Βροχοπούλι. The mud from the lake is used by the "Rusanda" Special Rehabilitation Hospital (also known as 'Rusanda Spa') for therapeutic treatments since 1867.

The park surrounding the spa is a home for a breeding colony of (Ευρωπαϊκό) Μαυροκιρκίνεζο, Βραχοκιρκίνεζο, Χαβαρόνι, and (Ευρωπαϊκή) Κάργια, many songbirds like (Κοινή) Καρδερίνα, (Ευρωπαϊκός) Φλώρος, Γαλαζοπαπαδίτσα, Χρυσοβασιλίσκος, σταβλοχελίδονο, and Λευκοχελίδονο as well as a wintering location for Νανόμπουφος.

In the reeds and saline meadows around the lake common are (Μεγάλο) Καλαμοτσίχλονο, Υφάντρα, Μουστακαλής, Τσιχλοποταμίδα, Καλαμοποταμίδα, Τσιφτάς, and (Κοινή) Σιταρήθρα.

The saline lake covers a surface of 4 km2, and its water is of similar salinity to the sea. It has been speculated that Rusanda lake is one of the remnants of the ancient Pannonian Sea, but the lake is probably a fossil bed of the Tisza river.

There are two birding observation towers. One is at the lake shore near the Spa buildings, from where shorebirds and waterbirds can be observed. The second one is far at the northwest edge of the lake, where common are shorebirds and saline grassland species.

Details

Access

Nature Park Rusanda is easily accessible from Melenci village. Turn left at the village's north exit towards the 'Rusanda Spa'.

Terrain and Habitat

Lake , Wetland , Grassland , Forest , Mud flats , Park , Reedbeds , Agriculture

Conditions

Flat

Circular trail

No

Is a telescope useful?

Yes

Good birding season

Spring , Autumn , Summer

Best time to visit

Spring migration , Autumn migration

Route

Narrow trail , Wide path

Difficulty walking trail

Average walk

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle

Birdwatching hide / platform

Yes

Extra info

During the summer, the water levels may shrink and it could be possible to walk over the salt mud. But be extra careful as unexploded bombs from WW2 are found in two locations inside the lake (location marked on the map).

Links

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

Top 5 birds

(Ευρωπαϊκό) Μαυροκιρκίνεζο
1. (Ευρωπαϊκό) Μαυροκιρκίνεζο
(Falco vespertinus)
Σιγλίγουρος
2. Σιγλίγουρος
(Numenius phaeopus)
Λευκοσκαλίδρα
3. Λευκοσκαλίδρα
(Calidris alba)
(Ευρασιατική) Τουρλίδα
4. (Ευρασιατική) Τουρλίδα
(Numenius arquata)
Αργυροπούλι
5. Αργυροπούλι
(Pluvialis squatarola)

Other birds you can see here

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