Birds watching
The way the fishing economy was managed, the history and the structure of the ponds determine their incredible biodiversity, which manifests itself e.g. in the occurrence of rare and endangered bird species (the Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax, the Purple Heron Ardea purpura, the Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris, the Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus, the Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina, the Little Crake Porzana parva, the Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula, the Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus and the Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus), as well as plants (the water chestnut Trapa natans and the floating heart Nymphoides peltata). The valleys of the Soła, Skawa and Vistula Rivers and nearby disused gravel pits provide rich breeding and feeding habitat diversity for these species. Thus this system of habitats makes the place attractive for birds and birdwatchers all year round. Because of conditions changing in each season of the year, altogether 314 bird species, including 180 breeding ones can be found in different but actually closely located places. So the tourist (ornithological) season in the region lasts from early spring till late autumn. Even in winter considerable concentrations of birds gather on the non-freezing Vistula River.
Where to watch the birds?
Near Zator there are five most interesting fishing ponds complexes: Przeręb (465 ha), Spytkowice (550 ha), Bugaj (180 ha), Rudze (120 ha), and Monowskie ponds (210 ha). Przeręb and Spytkowice complexes are situated by the road 44 from Oświęcim to Zator. You can get to Spytkowice complex driving the same road in Kraków direction. Turn left about 700 m from the railway track. Bugaj ponds are situated by the road 781. From the Market Square in Zator drive in direction to Wadowice, then after 1 km turn right. To Rudze ponds you can get from the road Zator-Wadowice.
You can also visit "Smolice" gravel pits (Palczowice) in Podolsze and the bend "A".
Communication
The best mean of transport in the Carp Valley is car or bike. More than 100 km of cycling trail have been determined for cyclists.
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