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Description
Located between the River Danube and the levee, Beljarica (Beh-LYAH-ritza) is a spacious flood retention basin of Belgrade, 2.1 km at its widest point and some 9 km2 of seasonally inundated riparian forests of willow and poplar, with stands of oak and ash, yet largely under industrial black poplar plantations, river arms and ponds. 60 mammal (Eurasian Beaver, Eurasian Otter, Wild Boar, Roe Deer, Wildcat, Pine Marten, Golden Jackal) and 200 bird species (over 170 strictly protected) were recorded here. Among them are breeding Чёрный аистs and no less than 3 pairs of Орлан-белохвостs.
SPRING: Waterbirds recorded in Beljarica include Чирок-трескунок and Белоглазый нырок, Кваква and the Жёлтая цапля. Болотный лунь is present year-round. Обыкновенный зимородок, Удод and the Золотистая щурка come from their nesting holes at the high loess-bluff of the opposite, right bank of the river. Желна is characteristic of the area, as well as the Чеглок. Also, breeding Обыкновенный жулан, Обыкновенный ремез, Зелёная пересмешка, and Бледная пересмешка certainly deserve a mention.
MIGRATION: Waders appear in late summer (mid-August), including Фифи, Ходулочник, Малый зуёк, Чернозобик, Кулик-воробей, sometimes Щёголь. Серая мухоловка, Пеночка-трещотка and Пеночка-весничка are most visible during their mid-August to early October migration, while the Теньковка is present year-round (in winter mostly the Siberian ssp. tristis).
In WINTER months, there would be numerous Большая белая цапляs, ducks and cormorants, Полевой лунь and Болотный луньs, Eurasian Перепелятник, half a dozen to a dozen Орлан-белохвостs. Other notable species are Серый сорокопут, Горный конёк and Луговой конёк, flocks of Юрокs, and Обыкновенный дубоносes.
PROTECTION STATUS: Beljarica is a part of the international ecological corridor along the Danube River, the “Confluence of the Sava and the Danube Rivers” Important Bird Area (IBA) and, from August 2022, part of the new, backwaters nature reserve "Foreland of the Left Bank of the Danube near Belgrade", also known as the Belgrade Amazonia.
Drone photo by VICE.
Details
Access
The earlier in the morning, the better. You will have the sun behind you and the birds will be more active. Avoid afternoons because the sun is in your eyes and the birds are in the backlight.
The easiest access is by car from the Zrenjanin Road, through Kovilovo suburb, which is also reachable by public bus No. 106, yet the bus stop is 4.5 km from the levee. Zoom in on the map and click on the "P" (parking) sign for driving directions.
If you reach Beljarica by car, keep in mind that driving along the levee is prohibited and the barrier is often closed and locked. Park at the beginning of the route, but at the side – be sure not to block heavy lorries full of poplar trunks.
The other option is from the Belgrade suburb of Zemun, on foot across the Pupin’s Bridge and then downstairs onto the dyke. Continue north.
Be boar aware and please follow the levee birding route (about 6 km). It is definitely not recommended to enter the basin itself, as wild sows with piglets can behave aggressively, and it is flooded in huge areas anyways.
Terrain and Habitat
Forest , Wetland , Lake , Mud flatsConditions
Flat , No shadowCircular trail
NoIs a telescope useful?
Can be usefulGood birding season
All year roundBest time to visit
Spring , Spring migration , Autumn migrationRoute
Unpaved roadDifficulty walking trail
EasyAccessible by
Bicycle , FootBirdwatching hide / platform
NoExtra info
“Foreland of the Left Bank of the Danube near Belgrade, in addition to Gornje Podunavlje Reserve and Koviljsko-petrovaradinski rit Reserve, is one of the largest flood zones in the entire Serbia, which clearly outlines the importance of this area regarding the protection of its natural phenomena and natural values.” (Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia)
The initiative to protect this area was launched in 2010 by the local NGO League for Ornithological Action (LOA). Belgrade City Environmental Secretariat accepted the initiative and the Institute for the Protection of Nature of Serbia produced the study and the official proposal for the protection of 18.6 sq km / 7.2 sq mi of the Danube Backwaters in 2014.
In August 2016, the newly planned Chinese Belt and Road harbour development inside the most valuable 9 sq km / 3.5 sq mi of the proposed reserve (Beljarica itself) was confirmed. Worried for the future of the backwaters, LOA launched the Save the “Belgrade Amazon” campaign, with a video clip, an online petition, lectures, public protests, media appearances, an award winning 40 minutes documentary (by VICE), etc. In March 2020, the Ministry of Construction and Traffic stated: “No, we gave up on the Beljarica locality, the harbour will be built somewhere farther upstream.”
And, 12 years later, in August 2022 Beljarica and the wider Danube Backwaters finally became officially protected: based on Article 42, Paragraph 8 of the Law on Nature Protection ("Official Gazette of the RS", No. 36/09, 88/10, 91/10-amendment, 14/16, 95/18-other law and 71/21) The Ministry of Environmental Protection informed the public about the procedure for initiating the protection of the natural area of the I (first) category, as an Area of Exceptional Characteristics "Foreland of the Left Bank of the Danube near Belgrade" [which includes Beljarica].
Still, Beljarica and the wider Danube Backwaters are potentially threatened by the state officials’ construction plans for the "Serbian - Chinese Industrial Park Mihajlo Pupin" right across the levee (E and SE of Beljarica).
Links
- eBird checklist
- Beljarica Backwaters: Some good news announced
- Beljarica Backwaters are finally protected!!
- UPDATE: the latest THREATS