“Ujście Warty” National Park

At the western border of Poland, where the waters of the Warta and Oder meet,  a true bird kingdom exists – the “Ujście Warty” (Mouth of Warta River) National Park. The Park was established in 2001 and is so far the youngest in the country. Until three hundred years ago, this area was covered with boggy riparian forests. After years of river engineering, logging forests, draining land and grazing, open spaces of moist, fertile meadows have developed here. For many weeks of the year, significant areas of the Warta Mouth are under water. This attracts water and marsh birds for which the Park is an important breeding place in Europe. It is also a stop during bird migration and even a wintering destination. Such incredibly large numbers and variety of birds cannot be found in many parts of Poland . So far, about 280 bird species have been recorded here, of which 170 are breeding species. During spring and autumn migrations of geese alone, over 100 thousand individuals can be counted here.

The symbol of the “Ujście Warty ” National Park is a tundra bean goose. Until recently, we used to call it bean goose. So where does this change come from? In recent years, scientists have divided this species into two: bean goose and tundra bean goose. It is the latter that is most often observed in the Park during migration and thus is included in our logo.

In autumn, the “Ujście Warty ” National Park becomes the territory of arctic geese: bean, greater white-fronted and tundra bean geese. During their passage, you can observe over 100 thousand individuals in our Park (a maximum of 200 thousand was noticed). During this time, it is especially worth  visiting us and observing the spectacle of the daily morning departure of geese from the Park, where they spend the night, to the surrounding fields and meadows where they feed. At the crack of dawn, the sky is dotted with their silhouettes and filled with their sounds.

2.2 km
The route is open to pedestrian and bicycle traffic
Walking time: 2-3 hours

“Ptasim Szlakiem” (along the birds’ trail) path leads into the “Ujście Warty” National Park. The best time to come here are the main  “birding” seasons, that are in spring or autumn, although you can also make interesting natural observations in winter. The least suitable time to visit this route is summer. During the spring passage, among others, ducks, flocks of ruffs and many other species of charadriiformes stay here. At the peak of the breeding season, one can observe lapwings, greylag geese, cormorants, herons, black-headed gulls and other gulls, terns, redshanks, black-tailed godwits and - an ornithological rarity - oystercatchers. June is the month of gathering for moulting of greylag geese, mute swans, mallards and cranes. Autumn is about morning and evening spectacles related to the departure and coming of thousands of geese flocks. In winter, whooper swans, white-tailed eagles and rough-legged buzzards can be admired. In order to get to the path, you need to follow special signs in Słońsk. The beginning of the route with a large shelter and toilets is located approx. 1 km from the last buildings of Przyborów. The path runs along a wide concrete road called “Betonka.” After around 1.5 km, there is an observation platform.  At the end of the route, you can find a wildlife observation hide. The water level in this part of the Park is subject to significant fluctuations, which is why the route may be flooded and inaccessible (mainly in winter and spring).

Dogs are not allowed. Groups of more than 20 people should inform us about their visit by e-mail (edukacja@pnujsciewarty.gov.pl) or by phone: 95 752 40 26.

Tourist trails:
Bicycle – 3 trails – 16.7 km

Educational and walking paths:
5 trails – 36.8 km, including 2 km for wheelchair users. Additionally, the “Natural Sensory Garden” is partially accessible to wheelchair users and blind people.