Ornithological Observatory (Curonian Spit)

The permanent field study area is a subdivision of the world’s first ornithological observatory founded in Rossitten (now Rybachy settlement) back in 1901 by Professor J. Tinnemann. The study area was named in honour of a chaffinch bird (in Latin Fringilla), located on the way of seasonal migrations of various birds. It should be noted that the study area Fringilla is run not all-the-year-round but seasonally. In autumn and spring over millions of birds fly the Curonian Spit national park. They are sent to the warm countries of Southern Europe and Africa. At this time, the observatory’s staff arrange very large nets for catching birds, registration and banding.

- Route length – 0.5 km;

- Located – 23th km of the Spit;

- The route passes through the field study area of the Biological Research Station of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences for ringing birds and studying their migratory state established in 1956 in the village of Rybachy. Lev Belopolsky became its first director. The excursion to the Fingilla field study area is carried out by qualified ornithologists.

For the first time the fishing traps were designed in 1957 by the biological observatory employee Janis Jaksis.

The information obtained from the official website of the Curonian Spit National Park.