The island of Pag has three ornithological reserves: “Velo blato” and “Malo blato” in Povljana and “blato Rogoza” in Kolan. In addition to these bird reserves, the island of Pag is rich in medicinal mud, that can be found across the island. The most famous is the curative mud “Segal” in Povljana.
Ornithological reserve “Veliko blato”
The ornithological reserve Veliko blato, is a shelter for a wide variety of marsh birds, especially during the period of nesting, migration and hibernation. The following birds can often be spotted here: black coot, little grebe, great crested grebe, grey heron, white heron, bittern, glossy ibis, ferruginous duck, and common spoonbill. What makes the reserve so special is the fact that it is the nesting place of the gadwall, Montagu’s harrier, and calandra lark, all three endangered Europe-wide, whereas in Croatia they are very rare nesting birds.
Such a preserved marsh territory is very rare nowadays, especially because of the increasing vulnerability of the marsh ornithofauna and the disappearance of the marsh biothope throughout Europe. Among all types of habitats in Europe, marsh habitats are definitely the richest and most various in bird life. The reserve Veliko blato is an important location for bird-watching and related activities, because there are exceptional facilities for this kind of recreational tourism which is based on sight-seeing round trips, bird-watching and photography. The reservation has a watch tower and an info-board. Experts have so far documented 143 bird varieties on the locality, compiled a bird check-list, and marked the most convenient periods within each season for bird-watchers, as well as varieties of birds which can be seen during a particular period.
Tickets for sightseeing in Veliko blato are sold in the Tourist board Povljana. The Tourist board also issues permits for freshwater fishing. You can buy a fishing permit for one day or the whole week.
Ornithological reserve “Kolanjsko blato” (Kolan mud)
Wetland habitat that highlights the richness and diversity of the bird world. For its importance for the conservation of biodiversity, it is protected as an ornithological reserve. In Kolan mud and its surroundings, there are 163 bird species reported, of which 66 are nest birds. During the migration and wintering various bird species take refuge in the reeds. Some live in the surrounding meadows, and some nest in the nearby island and they come to the mud to feed on the abundance of fish. This small swamp in the middle of island’s rocks is a true gem of nature and life.
Curative mud “Segal”
West of Povljana, by the beach Dubrovnik surrounded by pine forest, you will find lake Segal with muddy sediment. A natural therapeutic agent such as peloid, along with the sun, sea and clean air, is a favourable factor in the preservation and improvement of one’s health and well-being, prevention and curing different illnesses, as well as recovering from them. Therapeutic peloid is ideal for curing degenerative ailments, rheumatic arthritis and skin diseases. It is often used as a compress for stomach and kidney area in the cases of gastrointestinal illnesses, as well as illnesses of reproductive organs and the urinary system. It is used in the case of rheumatic ailments as a compress and coating for arms, individual joints or groups of large joints and the backbone. Natural mud is considered a good means for detoxification. Find your own place on the beach, on the rocks or under pine trees, and give yourself over to the relaxing and therapeutic effect of beneficial climatic, marine and balneological factors.
