Northern Croatian town declared first village of sand martins

The sand martin

ZAGREB, 11 June (Hina) – The town of Đelekovec has been declared the first village of the sand martin (Riparia riparia), also known as the bank swallow) in Croatia, the organisers of a project called “DRAVA LIFE integrated river management” said on Monday in the city of Koprivnica.

Sand martins are the smallest European hirundines (the collective name for martins and swallows). 

They are migratory passerine birds in the swallow family. This bird species has a wide range in summer, embracing practically the whole of Europe and the Mediterranean countries.

Their habitats are farmlands and wetlands

The mayor of Đelekovec, Lara Samošćanec, said yesterday that the local authorities and local farms had signed contracts aimed at protecting sand birds’ habitats.

Sand martins nest on cliffs and steep banks of rivers and lakes.

The state-run Hrvatske Vode water management company is also included in the implementation of the project.

Tanja Nokowitz of the WWF Austria explained that sand martins are an important indicator of the health of river eco-systems.

DRAVA LIFE is being implemented by the Hrvatske Vode company, WWF Austria, the Zeleni Osijek Green association, and the local public institution for the protection of nature in three northern Croatian counties: Koprivnica, Varaždin and Virovitica.