On its way between the Black Forest and the Black Sea, the Danube flows 70 km through the Swabian Danube Valley. After the Lüneburg Heath, the 400 km² Donauried is the largest unsettled open landscape in Germany and the largest natural flood reservoir in Bavaria. The extensive landscape with moors, reed beds and pollarded willows is a habitat for numerous rare plants and animals. Over 250 different species of birds can be observed here. Many breed, others take a break on their long journey between the Arctic Circle and the Mediterranean Sea and still others spend the winter in the mild Danube valley.
Typical breeding birds are the white stork, lapwing and curlew. The resting birds include crane and redshank, winter guests are whooper swans, hen harriers and great egrets.
The measures were carried out in 5 sub-areas (TGs) in the districts of Donau-Ries, Dillingen and Günzburg, within an area of 7,400 ha in the years 2006 - 2011: Eastern Danube meadows, Mertinger Ried, Eastern Donauried, Eppisburger Ried and in sub-area 5, the Swabian Donaumoos.
Source: Arge-Donaumoos