Greetings from Bechyne, Czech Republic

Some water species from our region

Vážka Dragonfly

(Odonata)

In the world, there are about 5500 species of dragonflies. In the Czech Republic, there are 68 species.

By Valy

They live near water. Their nymphs live under water.

Dragonflies are predators. They eat insects.Dragonflies are expert fliers and have a perfect sight.

Did you know? Dragonflies were on Earth even before the dinosaurs.

LedňáčekThe common kingfisher(Alcedo atthis)

You can see it all across Eurasia and North Africa.

By Eliska

It lives there, but it migrates from areas where rivers freeze in winter.

It feeds mainly on fish, caught by diving, and has special visual adaptations to enable it to see its prey under water.

It lays eggs in a nest at the end of a burrow in a riverbank.

The common kingfisher has no song. The flight call is a short sharp whistle, chee, repeated two or three times.

Volavka popelavá Grey heron(Ardea cinerea)

Grey heron is a large wading bird.

By Radek

Its height is 84 up to 102 cm, in wingspan 155 – 175 cm and it weighs 1 – 2 kg.It has a long slender neck and long legs that enables it to move even in deep water too.

Heron eats fish, amphibians, molluscs, insects in the water and voles on the field too.Heron catches fish in a stationary position waiting for its prey and staring at the water surface or on the bottom and then quickly jerks its neck and catches the prey using its beak as a harpoon.

It lives by the water, wetlands, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, canals.

Its nest is large, built in the tops of tall trees from the branches and the stele from the grass. The male wears a construction material, and the female builds the nest.

Rejsec VodníEurasian water shrew

Characteristics

The head with the body reaches the size of 7.2 to 9.6 cm, the tail from 4.7 to 7.7 cm, height of 1.6 to 2 cm and weight of 9-23 grams.

Occurrence

It inhabits clean, unpolluted water, we can sometimes encounter it even far from water. These are probably shrews who are looking for new territory.

In the Czech Republic it appears throughout the state.

Food

Insects, small fish and frogs, which are sometimes larger than the water shrew.

By Ondrej

Weight: 3-10 kg

Body length: 57-80 cm

Tail length: 27-55 cm

Otter is strongly territorial, living alone for the

most part. They often inhabit an area of more than

30 square km. They usually mark their teritory.

Vydra

OtterLutra Lutra

By David

They may inhabit any unpolluted body of fresh water, including lakes, streams,

rivers, and ponds, as long as the food supply is adequate. Eurasian otters may

also live along the coast, in salt water, but require regular access to fresh water

to clean their fur.

The otter is a great swimmer and diver. It can stay longer

than 5 minutes in the water, and can swim up to 400 m.

In one day the otter consumes large amounts of food. It feeds primarily with water animals, especially

fish, sometimes shellfish, amphibians, small mammals and young waterfowl.

Piskoř pruhovanýEuropean weatherfishMisgurnus fossilis

It was used to predict the weather

It can feel the changes in barometric pressure.

By Monika

Spawning takes place in April-June

They feed on small invertebrates from the bottom

It inhabits muddy bottoms of slowly flowing and still waters

Typical features: dark stripes along the sides; ability to swallow oxygen from the air

It grows to the length of 15-25 cm, rarely up to 35 cm

Bluethroat

Slavík modráček

The bluethroat is similar in size to the European robin at 13–14 cm.

It is a migratory bird. It feeds on insects. Its breeding takes place in wet birch wood or bushy swamp in Europe and Asia.

The male has a VARIED and very imitative song. Its call is a typical chat chack noise.

By Alex

Riparian forestA riparian forest or riparian woodland is a wooded area of land adjacent to a body of water such as a river, stream, pond, lake, marshland, estuary, canal, sink or reservoir.

• Riparian forests help control sediment, reduce the damaging effects of flooding and help stabilizing stream banks.

• Riparian zones are zones between upland terrestrial land and water environment. Organisms found in this zone are adapted to periodic flooding. Many not only tolerate it, but need – it is important to their health and life. By Jakub

alder tree

poplar treeoak treeash tree

elm tree

willow tree

Typical riparian forest trees:

Thank you for your attention!

See you soon in Bechyne and the Czech

Republic!