Hutovo blato, a unique sub-Mediterranean swamp in Europe and one of the largest locations of birds of the European area in winter times, is located in south of Herzegovina, on the left side of the river Neretva. This swamp is interesting and significant location from ornithological, ichthyologic, scientific, ecological and tourist point of view.
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), a little black-white-gray heron, is a night bird that is fed with frogs, fish and insects. In the nest built of branches, mostly in trees, lays 2-3 eggs on which both female and male brood, and after 21-22 days the young hatch. Quail (Coturnix coturnix), a little brown chicken, the smallest from chicken’s order. It is fed by seeds, leaf and flower buds and blackberries. Hard to see because it more walks than flies and it’s hiding in greenery. It bent its nest in thick grass, in which lays 8-13 eggs on which itself broods and from which, after 20 days the young hatch. Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) is a very timid and fast, it is much easier to hear than to see because the voice sound very porky. It bent its nest in thick vegetation on the ground, and for the youth who hatch after 19-20 days care both female and male. Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is known for having deposit their eggs in others’ nests and other birds care about the young birds. Sometimes they lay only one egg and sometimes even 25 which allocates into other bird’s nests. Little birds hatch after 15 days, get on well and expel other birds form the nest.
