GREAT CORMORANT AND GREY HERON COLONIES IN JUODKRANTĖ

Between Juodkrantė and Ram Hill (“Avino kalnas”), in the old-growth forest lies the Heron Hill (“Garnių kalnas”), which got its name from the grey heron and great cormorant colonies that dwell nearby. Incidentally, it is one of the biggest colonies of these birds in Europe. Cormorants appeared in Juodkrantė in 1803 and, after settling near the herons, started taking over their nesting grounds. Slowly, the herons were pushed out to the outskirts and started migrating south of Juodkrantė. A decade later, two colonies of herons and cormorants developed at the southern and northern shorelines of Juodkrantė.
In the first half of February, the first cormorants arrive at the Curonian Spit, and soon after the grey herons follow suit. By the end of March, the colonies are at full swing. According to the 2021 population counts, 3,135 pairs of great cormorants and 228 pairs of grey herons were nesting their young in the colony.
On the edge of the great cormorant and grey heron colony stands an observation platform. So, visitors have the perfect opportunity to experience the lives of these birds up close and to learn more about the nesting grounds as well as the birds themselves.