Reserve zone Donkmeer is of regional ornithological importance because of the presence of the only large breeding colony of grey herons in the Scheldt valley between Ghent and Dendermonde. The number of occupied nests in this colony is subject to quite strong fluctuations but has averaged around 60 since 1994.
(Durme VZW)

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DirkWi

April 4, 2024

Stop and look up at the treetops:
In the alders and ash trees of this mysterious swamp forest you will find a large heron colony. One of the few in this region. They make their nests high up in the trees in large colonies to protect themselves from enemies.
Herons like to eat fish. Everyone with an ornamental pond has seen a heron standing stock-still at the edge of the water. But they actually prefer to eat other animals: earthworms, beetles, amphibians and especially moles and mice. The remains of these can be found in the pellets that they spit out around their nests. In this way they keep these populations under control.
They breed very early in the year, usually already at the beginning of February. Light blue eggshells that lie here and there under the nests betray the hatching of the young. However, by breeding so early they are very vulnerable to severe winter weather. In the graph you can clearly see that the years with severe winters cause a decline in the population.
Spring storms also often wreak havoc in this colony. Then the nests, eggs or even young ones blow out of the trees. Be careful!
In the winter half year you have a chance to spot snow-white herons in the area. These are great white egrets. They have not yet bred here, but hopefully in the future.

Source: vzw Durme information board on site

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Dirk & Charlotte

September 14, 2025

Besides herons, you can spot many other (water) birds there. We saw herons, ducks, moorhens, storks, pheasants, and many more.

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Elevation 50 m

Weather

Sunday 21 December

8°C

3°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h

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Location: Berlare, Dendermonde, East Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

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