Pischelsdorf meadows

In the foreground, a damp depression in the Pischelsdorf meadows with an occurrence of the Siberian iris ( Iris sibirica ). The light stripe in the background is formed by the awns of feather grass ( Stipa pennata agg.) Billowing in the wind , which grows on a dry elevation.

The Pischelsdorfer Wiesen (also known as “Pischelsdorfer Fischawiesen”) are a nature reserve and part of a Natura 2000 area in the municipality of Götzendorf an der Leitha in the federal state of Lower Austria ( district of Bruck an der Leitha ). The protected area, which is one of the most species-rich biotope complexes in Austria, covers an area of 15.2 hectares and is the remainder of a formerly extensive meadow landscape of the so-called wet plain.

Ecological importance

In the Pischelsdorfer Wiesen there are moist depressions next to semi-arid lawns in a confined space. This habitat mosaic is one reason for the great biodiversity. The cause of the damp sinks is the special water balance in which the groundwater comes to the surface.

fauna and Flora

680 species of butterflies have been identified in the Pischelsdorf meadows. Numerous endangered grasshopper species such as the endangered heath grasshopper ( Gampsocleis glabra ) and the steppe bush-cricket ( Platycleis montana ) have a retreat in the reserve.

The moist hollows are ideal habitats for various amphibians such as the fire-bellied toad ( Bombina bombina ), the agile frog ( Rana dalmatina ), the small water frog ( Pelophylax lessonae ) or the European tree frog ( Hyla arborea ).

Reptiles such as the sand lizard ( Lacerta agilis ) or the grass snake ( Natrix natrix ) have been detected. The habitat, as it is given in the Pischelsdorf meadows, is also ideal for the endangered meadow viper ( Vipera ursinii ). However, investigations in 1991 could not provide any evidence. It was also found that the remaining isolated habitat is too small for the conservation of the species.

Endangered species such as the curlew ( Numenius arquata ), the peewit ( Vanellus vanellus ), the Braunkehlchen ( Saxicola rubetra ), the Bunting ( Emberiza Calandra syn. Miliaria Calandra ) which Sperbergrasmücke ( Sylvia nisoria ) or Beutelmeise ( Remiz pendulinus ) brood here still. Some of the earlier breeding species such as the yellow wagtail ( Motacilla flava ) or the common snipe ( Gallinago gallinago ) are now absent .

The Pischelsdorfer meadows are best known for their botanical peculiarities: marsh victims ( Gladiolus palustris ), lung gentian ( Gentiana pneumonanthe ), common devil bite ( Succisa pratensis ), wet meadow carnation ( Dianthus superbus subsp. Superbus ), great finial ( Polygala major ), villi flax ( Linum hirsutum ), yellow flax ( Linum flavum ), bug orchid ( Anacamptis coriophora ), bell jar ( Adenophora liliifolia ), steppe bellflower ( Campanula sibirica ) or Siberian iris ( Iris sibirica ) are just a small number Selection of the plant species occurring here.

Villi flax ( Linum hirsutum )
Swamp-Siegwurz ( Gladiolus palustris )
Yellow flax ( Linum flavum )
Bug orchid ( Orchis coriophora )
Lung gentian ( Gentiana pneumonanthe )
Common devil bite ( Succisa pratensis )
Greater finial ( Polygala major )
Beaker bell ( Adenophora liliifolia )
Steppe Bellflower ( Campanula sibirica )

Protection categories and area designations

The nature reserve was ordained in 1966. According to the ordinance (as of October 2014), it includes plots no.2309, 2310, 2311, 2312 and 2313 in the Pischelsdorf cadastral community.

In 1989 the nature reserve was declared a Biogenetic Reserve by the Council of Europe.

In 1998 the Natura 2000 bird sanctuary "Feuchte Ebene - Leithaauen" was reported to the EU Commission. The Pischelsdorfer meadows are part of the bird sanctuary. In 2009 the bird sanctuary was legally enacted.

The Pischelsdorfer Wiesen are also part of the fauna-flora-habitat area of the same name (but not the same area) ("FFH area" for short) "Feuchte Ebene - Leithaauen", which was also reported in 1998. In 2011 the FFH area was legally enacted.

Interventions and endangerment

The Pischelsdorfer meadows and their sensitive species are affected by drainage measures in the vicinity of the nature reserve, as well as by walking and driving on the areas. The area is also considered to be significantly too small to preserve its breeding habitat for species such as the curlew.

As early as 1999, the competent authority stated that the protection status is not sufficiently effective to achieve the protection goals in the biogenetic reserve and that there are conflicts due to the adjacent agricultural use (fertilizer and pesticide input). Even then, the extension of the nature reserve to 27 hectares was planned, which has not yet taken place (as of July 2014).