Abundance of wild-goose in Tata at the end of autumn

An interesting phenomenon is the migration of birds, who know when to fly to warmer climates even without changing the clocks, especially the V-shaped migration of wild-geese when cooler winds blow and winter approaches.

A special location offers a home to those interested in migratory animals: in Tata, apostrophized as the "city of waters", the Öreg-tó is the only bird resting place in Europe that is surrounded by an entire city.

This in itself is enough to delight nature-loving eyes, but by taking advantage of the location and its features, the Öreg-tó in Tata and its surroundings enrich the bird watching with additional exciting programmes, which are slightly different each year. As a small taste of the possible pastimes, which expand knowledge with the help of local clubs, it is worth mentioning the autumn starry sky, because if you are lucky, you can also take a look at the various constellations with binoculars after sunset. With the help of the nature conservation associations of our country, we can listen to lectures about the protection of our waters, water locations, and the bird life of different countries and rainforests.

“Every year, nature and bird lovers come from home and abroad. The geese arrive with almost clockwork precision, which makes the children very excited, as they can finally see their favourite birds up-close. A 12-hour fowling competition is also part of the programme, which will be introduced to interested parties on the same day" we learn from the organizers. The Építók bird-watching tower in the park offers an opportunity to get a closer look at the birds, which is made more exciting by a bird-watching competition.

The bird festival is usually a long-weekend event, where the number of visitors increases every year, which now reaches 10,000 people, and whoever spends the last weekend of November in Tata can not only see these wonderful creatures, which are considered shy animals, but can also immerse in the peaceful atmosphere of a historic town.

“The wild-geese wintering on the Öreg-tó come from Scandinavia and Siberia, touching the Netherlands and Germany. The first flights appear at the end of September, at the beginning of October, and return to their Arctic nesting grounds in March. The employees of the Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Association have been working for decades to preserve the natural values ​​of the lake. They constantly monitor the number of birds here, the situation of the flocks, and identify factors that endanger the birds." - writes the Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Association about the "drawing in" of wild-geese in the last days of autumn.

Geese usually take off from the lake early in the morning to the nearby feeding areas, and then they return to safety at the end of the day, when the sunset dressed in a purple robe paints a wonderful background for the flock of birds arriving. This series of events is not loud from concerts, but still promises very exciting programmes. On the shore of the lake, bird watchers wait for those interested with various binoculars and telescopes so that the birds can be recognized more easily. In addition to the performances, short films and many other programmes, the children will not be left behind either: nature games and special craft activities are also waiting for the little ones, and even the big ones.

It is recommended to dress in layers, warm clothes are necessary during the last weekend of November. Mulled wine and hot tea can be bought on the lake shore, but it is also worth packing water when you leave. And those who have their own binoculars and bird atlas should definitely bring them with them!