2008Fauna - The Birds of Hutovo Blato - First Day Cover

In the south of Herzegovina, on the left side of the Neretva river, is located the Hutovo Mud, a unique sub-Mediterranean swamp in Europe and one of the largest hibernates for birds in this part of Europe. The swamp is interesting and essential in an ornithological, aetiological, scientific, ecological, and tourist perspective. Even though the largest number of bird species is registered during the autumn and spring bird migration, a great amount of species remains here in hibernation and nesting.Short–toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) is a large predator with long wings, and it got its name because it likes to eat snakes. It is a very rare species that nests in the mountains surrounding Neretva.Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is the only small predator in the Neretva, it has long sharp-pointed wings and a long tail. It nests in areas along the Neretva river, most frequently in tree holes that other birds have abandoned, and in the winter time it often remains along the swamp during bird migration season. Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) is the biggest owl along the Neretva, with distinguished ears and large orange eyes. It nests in cliffs or holes in trees of rocky areas in which it hunts birds and mammals.Hawk (Accipiter gentilis) is a predator coloured grey with many small stripes on its neck, chest and lower body parts. It prefers forest areas and macchia, flies rapidly and low, sometimes right above the ground.