Bird sanctuary shallow water and island zone in the Altmühlsee

	NSG bird sanctuary shallow water and island zone in Altmühlsee IUCN Category IV - Habitat / Species Management Area
	Area in the nature reserve (2012)
location	Gunzenhausen and Muhr am See , Bavaria , Germany
surface	201.54 ha
Identifier	NSG 00311.01
WDPA ID	166070
Natura 2000 ID	DE-6728-471
Bird sanctuary	201.54 ha
Geographical location	49 ° 9 ' N , 10 ° 43' E Coordinates: 49 ° 8 '30 " N , 10 ° 42' 32" E
Setup date	1987

The shallow water and island zone in Altmühlsee , also known colloquially as the bird island , is a nature reserve in Gunzenhausen and Muhr am See in the Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen district in Central Franconia . The nature reserve comprises the northwest area of the Altmühlsee with an archipelago and the area where the Altmühl feeder flows into the lake. With an area of around two square kilometers, it is the largest nature reserve in the Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen district. All islands in the area are uninhabited.

The nature reserve lies within the much larger EU bird sanctuary Altmühltal with Brunst-Schwaigau and Altmühlsee (identifier DE-6728-471). This makes it part of the European Natura 2000 network of protected areas .

Area description

When the Altmühlsee was built in the 1980s, the bird island area was created with around 40 small, flat inland islands , mud banks and particularly long shorelines. Different types of biotopes interlock here : shallow water zones with underwater plants, reeds and sedges as well as tall herbaceous meadows and bushes.

Annually, more than 200 bird species use the biotope as a feeding, resting and moulting habitat. During the bird migration , the number of observable birds reaches its maximum. Numerous birds also stay for breeding at Altmühlsee.

tourism

The nature reserve is located in the Franconian Lake District tourism region . Pedestrians and people with reduced mobility have the opportunity to enter and explore parts of the bird island in the north on a barrier-free bird and natural history trail . An observation tower allows views far beyond the protected area. Excursions are offered for school classes and groups where experts give insights into the local bird , amphibian , insect and plant world.