The Heřmanský State – Oder River – Poolší Bird Area 1
The Olza Floodplain 18
Basic information
The Olza river floodplain is home to many protected animal and plant species. Former meanders of this floodplain and a well-preserved river terrace around Věřňovice with its mostly linear accompanying vegetation and soft meadows are an ideal shelter for these species. A part of this area belongs to Věřňovice Natural Monument which encompasses 4,59 hectares and was established in order to protect the vegetation of its floodplain forest in 1989. Věřňovice Natural Monument is regarded as one of Sites of Community Importance (SCI) as is it a part of The Olza River Floodplain– Věřňovice Protected Area which was established in order to protect brown hermit Osmoderma eremita and yellow-bellied toad Bombina variegata within an area of 553,9969 hectares. Apart from that, this area also belongs to Heřmanský the state – The Oder River – Poolší Bird Area which is located in the northeastern part of Moravian-Silesian Region near the Polish border. This area is based upon the Oder river (in the lenght of cca 10 km) and the Olza river (in the length of cca 16 km) including adjacent river floodplains. Karviná ponds system and the stretch of the Petrůvka river border are connected from the east, pond systems in Rychvald, Bohumín – Záblatí and Heřmanice are connected form the south. The total extent of this bird area is 3100,8670 hectares.
Subject of protection
The following species are the main subjects of protection in this bird area: the Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus, the Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis and the Bluethroat Luscinia svecica. Except from that many rare amphibians, birds and other animals can be found there. One of them is also the Yellow-bellied Toad Bombina variegata.
Bombina variegata
Yellow-bellied Toad Bombina variegata
The Yellow-bellied Toad Bombina variegata is a small toad, typically not longer than 5 cm. Unlike its relative, the Fire-bellied toad Bombina bombina, the skin on its belly is yellow, therefore yellow-bellied. In the case of emergency, it makes a warning position, so-called Yellow-bellied Toad´s reflex. It elevates both front and back legs, stretches its back and shows its yellow colour. Yellow is a warning sign for other animals, meaning this is an inedible creature. The Yellow-bellied Toad is the priority species and it is the main subject of protection in the Site of Community Importance (SCI) The Olza River Floodplain – Věřňovice. According to the law, it belongs to highly endangered species.
Bombina variegata
Useful information
Contact information Regional Authority of the Moravian-Silesian Region, Department of the Environment and Agriculture 28. října 117, 702 18 Ostrava www.kr-moravskoslezsky.cz Phone: +420 595 622 297
