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Description
The Rače ponds are located on the outskirts of the Drava plain, 12 km south of Maribor and close to the village of Rače. The ponds have been used for fish farming since 1870 – a time when they were owned by the counts of Rače. Today carp cultivation still takes place in six ponds. Birds can be experienced here throughout the whole year. Among aquatic species regularly nesting here are (Κοκκινόλαιμο) Νανοβουτηχτάρι and Σκουφοβουτηχτάρι, Μαυροκέφαλη Πάπια, (Κοινή) Φαλαρίδα and lately the endangered (Ευρωπαϊκη) Βαλτόπαπια. The Δεντρογέρακο, hunting dragon flies, can often be seen overflying the water surfaces. With some luck you can also spot Ψαραετός here in time of migration. Throughout the whole year (Ευρωπαϊκή) Αλκυόνη hunts from the branches by the water, whereas the Σταχτοτσικνιάς hunts from the branches in the forest. The Μαύρος Πελαργός, which nests in the nearby forest, appears in the area regularly as well. Different waders can be observed when the water level is low.
Details
Access
By train: Rače train station. The way to the pond complex is approximately 3 kilometres long and can be done either on foot or with a bicycle. From the train station you go on Ljubljanska street (Ljubljanska cesta) towards the roundabout at castle Rače. Here you turn south and continue on Ptujska street (Ptujska cesta) – with the fire station on our left. After 500 metres you reach the sign of the landscape park, you turn right and reach the area of Rače ponds in 100 metres.