Drwęca Marsh Valley

Above Brodnica the Drwęca river makes a wide bend, and every spring its flat, marshy valley floor floods. During migration up to 20,000 waterbirds stop here, including up to 7,000 greater white-fronted geese. The easiest way to look into this bird refuge is from a wooden observation tower at the end of a short trail run by the Brodnica forest district – the nature education site closest to the town.

A Natura 2000 bird area

The Drwęca Marsh Valley (code PLB040002) is a Special Protection Area for birds covering about 3,366 ha, designated in 2004 and lying almost entirely within the Brodnica Landscape Park. The valley here is 0.5 to 3 km wide; the river meanders strongly, accompanied by oxbow lakes and a network of channels, and the slopes are mostly wooded. The valley floor holds purple moor-grass meadows, reed beds, sedge fens, willow scrub and alder carr. The protected area also includes the lower reaches of the Brynica and Samionka streams and the lakes Sopień and Ostrów. The Drwęca itself is Poland's longest fish reserve, protecting trout, sea trout and vimba among others.

Birds and other wildlife

43 species listed in Annex I of the EU Birds Directive have been recorded here. On migration you can see greater white-fronted geese (up to 7,000) and bean geese (up to 3,300), while breeding birds include greylag geese (up to 60 pairs), bluethroats (up to 25 pairs), cranes (up to 20 pairs), corncrakes and lesser spotted eagles; white-tailed eagles also visit. Mammals include otters, beavers and two bat species, the greater mouse-eared bat and the barbastelle. The biggest threat to the birds is the overgrowing of meadows and wetlands and falling water levels.

The trail and observation tower

The trail was built by the Brodnica forest district in the Długi Most forest section, with EU regional funding from 2007–2013. By the local road there is a stopping place with a shelter, from where a surfaced path with nature boards leads through the woods to a wooden observation tower on the forest edge. The loop is about 800 m long, for walkers only, and open all year. From the tower you can watch the valley without entering the wetland where the birds nest.

Tripto tip

You will see the most birds during the spring and autumn migrations and early in the morning. Bring binoculars, stay on the path and keep noise down. Entry is free; 30–60 minutes is enough for the walk and the tower, longer if you want to birdwatch. After rain the path can be muddy, and in summer insect repellent helps. The foresters ask visitors to take their litter home. In Brodnica itself, see the tower of the Teutonic Knights' castle; east of the town begin the lakes of the Brodnica Landscape Park.