Wildlife and nature surrounding the Danube River

The Donau-Auen National Park

You will find DonauauenNational Park situated in a lush ‘green ribbon’ that lies in between the two closest capital cities in Europe; Bratislava and Vienna. Established in 1996, The park spans over 40 square miles and is a highly important conservation area; as well as a centre for science and research.

The second largest river on the continent, The Danube, flows through Donauauen untamed, feeding and watering the plentiful wildlife, and sustaining what is the last large wetland ecosystem in Central Europe. The park is full of things to do, and is an excellent place for explorers of all ages.

Danube river banks

Spot rare and endangered species such as the Beaver and the Kingfisher; take one of the many walking tours; or rest up and sail the Danube. The neighbouring town of Orth also holds the tourist and information centre for the park, where you can learn about the environment in much more detail, get yourself some maps and check out the day’s tours and activities. Additionally the National Park House was opened in 2007 and was built beautifully in order to reflect and complement its surroundings. Shops, exhibitions, cafés, and events can all be found within.

The Donauauen National Park is one of 6 protected parks in Austria, and locals use the well-established hiking and cycling routes to see the most of the vast forests and bodies of water that make the park so special. The most popular route is 11 km long and is aptly named the Napoleon Loop, as it passes a memorial to the 1809 Battle of Aspern-Essling, as well as some battlefield sites, and the headquarters of Napoleon himself. 

As well as these main activities, there are places you can go for a swim, or take part in water sports. For a whistle-stop tour of the park, you can even board the Admiral Tegetthoff in Vienna and sail right through the park, arriving in the medieval town of Hainburg.

Quoth the Raven: Gesundheit!

Sure, we love our culture, hence the unsubtle title of this post. But a number of people travel to Austria to look at the local wildlife, and we thought we’d look at what there is to see.

There are a lot of places that cater to wildlife holidays, from isolated apartments and huts in the mountains to hotels that act as a base for nature lovers to explore. Here is a quick rundown of what you’ll hopefully see in Austria.

Mammals

Mammals are abundant in Austria, and some unusual varieties exist in the relatively isolated alpine regions. Wildlife holidays often take you to the mountains to see these animals.

Deer

The abundance of deer in Austria occasionally leads to a large 500-pound animal plowing through the windscreen, so be careful on those rural roads. In the mountainous areas, fallow and roe deer run, whereas in the lowlands, red deer are more common. You’ll often find you return from your wildlife trip to be greeted with a plate of venison, such is the love of hunting and managing wildlife in Austria.

Chamois

The alpine chamois is what you’d get if you mixed up badger and goat DNA and bred the result. This goat-like creature is a source of chamois leather, and it is apparently very tasty. If you want to get close to the animal, they usually look for danger below them and ignore anything above them.

Alpine Ibex

The alpine ibex is a goat with comedy horns. Big curly horns. They’re normally found halfway up mountains or climbing up dams. We’re not even kidding about the dams. What looks like a photoshopped image of goats on the side of a dam is actually real.
Birds

In the valleys, particularly around the lakes, are numerous bird species. Seewinkel and the Great Hungarian Plain are great areas for a wildlife holiday.

Wryneck

This unusual member of the woodpecker family looks like an oversized sparrow or thrush with a Mohawk. It’s not exactly a proper woodpecker because of its tail feathers, but it pecks at wood to get at ants and it lays its eggs in a hole in a tree, so to us it’s close enough. Like an owl, it can turn its head nearly 180 degrees, which looks weird but cool.

Black Redstart

This species is best described as a flycatcher with a red . . . behind. Absolutely lovely as they dash around catching the local annoying insects, their aerobatic displays are a joy to behold.

White Storks

If your hotel owner curses as he or she lights a fire and the chimney is blocked, it might be because a white stork has nested in the chimney. As you’re travelling along, look up, and you might see the giant nests that they like to make.
Anyway, these are just a few of the species that you will see out and about in Austria. Keep your eyes open, have a good pair of binoculars, and ask your local hotel for advice on the best spots to go for your wildlife holiday.

Oh, and if you’re hoping to see a black eagle, which is on the Austrian coat of arms, you’ll need to head to Central Asia!