Many travelers to Africa are familiar with the cowheron (Bubulcus ibis) as a companion to the large herds of ungulates in the savannas. Their breeding range used to be limited to southern Spain and Africa. In the course of the 20th century, it colonized America and Australia and spread to southern Europe. Today it inhabits wetlands throughout the southern half of the continent, especially the Iberian Peninsula. In the last 20 years its reach has expanded northwards (to Holland and Great Britain) and eastwards and has already reached Central Europe with our neighboring countries Hungary and the Czech Republic.
“Due to the increasingly hot weather here in Austria and the increasing drought in Spain, it was only a matter of time before the cowheron settled here,” explains Florian Billinger, an expert at BirdLife Austria. The ornithologist assesses the fact that at least four breeding pairs found their home at the Lower Inn as follows: “The Lower Inn is one of the most important breeding, resting and wintering places for many birds in Austria.”
Why at the Lower Inn?
There are essentially three factors why the Lower Inn is so attractive to egrets: As colony breeders, they enjoy joining successful, long-established, mixed-species heron colonies such as those found at the Lower Inn. Furthermore, since the plant was built in 1966, the area has been largely untouched due to the decades-old entry ban. Compared to other important Austrian heron breeding sites, the Lower Inn is not at risk of drying out. Its backwater areas with the many large areas of shallow water represent a high quality, nutritious, safe and nearly undisturbed habitat for water-dwelling bird species.
Just observing herons migrating is a big exception in Austria, only a few observations a year are successful – there hasn’t been a single sighting at the Lower Inn in the last four years. In early June, Thomas and Christa Pumberger of Aspach (Braunau/Inn District) observed for the first time an adult heron in breeding plumage. From now on, observations and also the number of herons increased: from mid-June, courtship took place, nesting material was collected and nests were built. At the end of June it became clear: Austria’s first breeding farm will be created here. At least four nests are now incubated.