Obedska Bara

Obedska Bara is an abandoned meander of the Sava, a horseshoe of shallow water and marsh surrounded by oak and ash forest, and its protection dates to 1874, which makes it one of the earliest protected areas anywhere in Europe. It is a Ramsar site and its reputation rests on birds: heron and cormorant colonies, white-tailed eagles, black storks, spoonbills and a long list of passage migrants, with some 220 bird species recorded, alongside 50 mammals and about 500 plants. Wooden walkways and observation towers give access to parts of the marsh, and forest tracks run around it. Water levels fluctuate and the marsh has been drying, which is the main conservation problem. It is close to Belgrade and quiet, and mornings in spring are the time it justifies the trip.

The landscape

• Heron and cormorant colonies - mixed nesting groups in the flooded forest.
• The oxbow marsh - the horseshoe of shallow water and reed.
• Boardwalks and towers - access points into the wetland.
• Oak and ash forest - old lowland woodland around the water.

When to go

April to June for breeding colonies and song, September and October for passage migrants. Water is highest in spring. Midsummer is quiet and mosquito-ridden, and low water in dry years reduces the marsh considerably.

What to expect

Mosquitoes are severe from late spring through summer and repellent is essential. Boardwalks are in variable repair. Birds need binoculars and patience; the colonies are viewed at distance. Signage is limited and mostly in Serbian. Access roads are unsurfaced in places.

Nearby

Zasavica lies west; Belgrade is east.

Key facts