The Jegrička is one of my favorite places to spend time in the field. I come here to observe birds, to slow down, and to reconnect with a landscape that has shaped my view of nature. It lies close to where I live, which makes regular visits possible, but proximity alone does not explain the bond I feel with this river.
I have known the Jegrička since childhood. Over the years, it became more than a familiar place. I watched it change with the seasons, learned its birds, and followed its quiet rhythms. What started as curiosity slowly turned into attachment. Today, every visit feels personal, shaped by memory, experience, and long hours spent observing life along its banks.
This article is meant as a taster for anyone curious about the Jegrička—a gentle invitation to explore its rich wetlands, stunning landscapes, and vibrant birdlife. I hope it encourages you to visit the river, experience its beauty firsthand, and become part of its ever-changing story.
Where Is the Jegrička Located?
The Jegrička River flows through the southern part of the Bačka region in northern Serbia, within the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. It originates from several small springs in western Bačka and gradually forms a defined watercourse near the village of Despotovo.
From there, the river follows the natural slope of the southern Bačka loess terrace, flowing from west to east. It passes through a predominantly agricultural landscape before eventually reaching its confluence with the Tisa River near the town of Žabalj.
Today, the Jegrička forms part of the Danube–Tisa–Danube Hydrosystem. Despite this regulated setting, several stretches of the river still preserve valuable wetland habitats. These sections support diverse birdlife and represent some of the most important remaining lowland wetland environments in the region.
A Lowland River Shaped by Water and Time
The Jegrička River breaks the monotony of the agricultural plains of southern Bačka. Rich wildlife, diverse habitats, and gentle landscapes define this lowland river. However, it has not always looked the way it does today.
In the past, vast wetlands dominated the area. Marshes, floodplains, and wet forests formed a complex mosaic of habitats. This landscape supported exceptionally high biodiversity.
The river rises from several unnamed springs in western Bačka. These waters gradually joined near Despotovo and formed a distinct watercourse. Following the natural slope of the southern Bačka loess terrace, the river slowly cut its channel through soft loess soil. It eventually reached the Tisa River near Žabalj.
Over time, the Jegrička developed the traits of a slow-flowing lowland river. Many of these features remain visible today.
For most of the year, the river carried only small amounts of water. Heavy spring and autumn rains caused it to swell. During floods, the Jegrička spread across nearby fields. As the water retreated, it left behind nutrient-rich loess sediments.
Until about fifty years ago, the shallow riverbed often dried out in summer. Local farmers used these areas as grazing land for livestock. Grazing limited the spread of riverside vegetation. It also created feeding grounds for waders and other wetland birds.
From Floodplains to a Regulated Watercourse
Human intervention reshaped the Jegrička as well. Today, water authorities manage the river as part of the Danube–Tisa–Danube Hydrosystem. They regulate its water regime along the entire 64-kilometre stretch. This management begins near Despotovo, where the Savino Selo–Novi Sad canal intersects the river, and continues to its confluence with the Tisa.
This strong control raises an important question. Does regulation save the river, or does it slowly push it toward disappearance? Machines cannot easily replace natural processes. The answer remains complex.
Livestock grazing has disappeared. Many traditional farmsteads no longer exist. Floods have ceased, but seasonal drying has vanished as well. River regulation eliminated many ponds, marshes, and wet meadows. These changes reshaped habitats and altered the distribution of wild plants and animals.
And yet, nature—however constrained by past interventions—persists.
Since 2005, Serbia has protected the area as Jegrička Nature Park, applying defined conservation regimes and management measures to preserve the remaining natural features of the watercourse. International conservation bodies have also recognized its importance by designating it as both an IPA (Important Plant Area) and an IBA (Important Bird Area). Still, a human-altered ecosystem remains permanently dependent on ongoing maintenance and management.
Birdlife: The True Value of the Jegrička
Everything the Jegrička offers leaves a lasting impression on visitors. In its best-preserved section—from the bridge on the Temerin–Bečej road to the sluice near Žabalj—the landscape is stunning, but it is the birds that draw most of the attention and form the foundation of its conservation value.
Dense and expansive reedbeds along the banks create ideal migration corridors and nesting habitats for reed warblers and cisticolas. Alongside the abundant Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus), species such as the Sedge Warbler (A. schoenobaenus), Marsh Warbler (A. palustris), Moustached Warbler (A. melanopogon), and Common Cetti’s Warbler (Cettia cetti) are present. Bearded Tits (Panurus biarmicus), Great Tits (Parus major), and Reed Buntings (Emberiza schoeniclus) are also common, remaining visible even during winter months.
The Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) is encountered increasingly often. Despite its elegance, it aggressively defends its territory—fortunately from people, but unfortunately also from other bird species.
Rails, Grebes and Waterfowl
Downstream, the river widens into shallow flood zones where reedbeds form parallel walls, creating a true reed labyrinth. These bays shelter Water Rails (Rallus aquaticus), Spotted Crakes (Porzana porzana), and Eurasian Coots (Fulica atra). The Near Threatened Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) is present as well, ranking as the second most numerous diving duck species here after Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) the Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula). Gadwalls (Mareca strepera), Garganeys (Spatula querquedula), and occasionally Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) can also be seen, usually only when flushed from dense reeds.
Great Crested Grebes (Podiceps cristatus) are relatively easy to observe, while the Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) is a master of disappearing beneath the water’s surface. With patience and luck, even the Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)—a rare visitor to this watercourse—may reveal itself.
Purple Herons (Ardea purpurea) and Western Marsh Harriers (Circus aeruginosus) rise suddenly from the reeds just meters away, their noisy takeoffs often startling visitors. From greater distances, Great Egret (Ardea alba), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), and Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) take flight, while the Eurasian Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) announces its presence only through its deep, mysterious booming call. Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) regularly forage in nearby wet meadows and fields, and birdwatchers repeatedly observe them near the Žabalj fishponds during the breeding season, even though breeding has not yet been confirmed.
Terns as Indicators of a Healthy Wetland
Further downstream, beyond the bridge near Gospođinci, a flash of emerald blue may reward visitors—the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis). Approaching carpets of white water lilies, one is greeted by the loud and fearless Whiskered Terns (Chlidonias hybrida). These birds defend their colonies so boldly that even the most persistent anglers often retreat from their nesting areas.
The Whiskered Tern population here is relatively stable, divided into five or six smaller colonies, with numbers ranging from 250 to 270 breeding pairs—more than 9% of the national population. Particularly valuable is the occasional breeding of a single pair of Black Terns (Chlidonias niger). White-winged Terns (Chlidonias leucopterus) are also regularly seen during the breeding season, though without confirmed nesting.
The Whiskered Tern can be considered an indicator species for the Jegrička. Its presence reflects a favorable water regime, well-developed floating vegetation, and sufficient open water surfaces. For this reason, conservation efforts should prioritize maintaining and improving tern populations—benefiting not only these birds but many other wetland species and the overall ecological status of the river.
Experiencing the Jegrička on Foot and by Boat
While nature often feels closest from a boat, walking the 3.5-kilometre educational trail along the right bank of the Temerin section of the Jegrička offers a unique experience. The trail starts at the Nature Park’s Information Center and ends at a birdwatching tower overlooking the river and the Bačka plain.
A wooden bridge, approximately 50 meters long, leads through the reeds above the water, offering intimate views of the wetland. Rest areas with wooden tables, benches, waste bins, and reed-covered sunshades enhance the experience, while informative panels introduce visitors to the park’s natural values.
Hawthorn, blackthorn, and cherry plum shrubs between the trail and the river attract numerous songbirds: warblers, Eurasian Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tits, Common Nightingales (Luscinia megarhynchos), Red-backed Shrikes (Lanius collurio), and in autumn and winter species such as Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), European Robin (Erithacus rubecula), Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), Eurasian Linnet (Linaria cannabina), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), and Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs).
As an eco-tourism addition, visitors can also enjoy a catamaran ride along the same stretch of the river. While bird observations during the ride are limited due to engine noise and the vessel’s size, the scenic views of this Bačka river remain unforgettable.
A Fragile Balance Between Conservation and Use
Finding the balance between financial sustainability and true nature conservation remains a major challenge for park management. This is particularly evident in efforts to combat eutrophication. Over the past decade, especially in sections that have not been dredged, open water surfaces have nearly disappeared due to expanding reedbeds and the intense growth of floating and submerged vegetation. Water flow slows, organic matter accumulates, and formerly open flood areas and habitat mosaics vanish.
Addressing this problem requires significant financial investment—far beyond what current revenues from resource use and tourism can provide. Existing management activities are insufficient in scale and effectiveness to ensure long-term conservation.
The only true path forward lies in placing nature protection above all other interests—water management, agriculture, hunting, fishing, and tourism alike. Whether and when this will happen remains uncertain.
Until then, our responsibility is clear: to learn, to observe, to enjoy the nature we still have, and to persistently seek and implement sustainable solutions—now and for the future.
A Hope for the Jegrička
The Jegrička has changed, and it continues to change. Human influence, water regulation, and ecological pressures have left clear marks on the river and its surroundings. Yet despite these challenges, the Jegrička endures.
I believe that, regardless of future uncertainties, it will remain one of the region’s natural gems. Its reedbeds, wetlands, and birdlife still offer moments of quiet beauty and discovery. With thoughtful protection and respect for natural processes, the Jegrička can continue to inspire those who visit it—just as it has inspired me for so many years.
Lorand Vigh is a nature conservation professional and lifelong birder based in Serbia (Vojvodina). With over 30 years of field experience in birdwatching, habitat protection, and conservation management, he has worked on bird monitoring projects, habitat restoration initiatives, and cross-border conservation cooperation. GoToBirding is a personal project built on real field experience, sharing practical, science-based advice for birders and wildlife photographers.