Watching Nature in the Bīriņi Castle Park

Will be enjoyed by each and every one interested in natural processes in man-made areas. Local guide is recommended.

Pay attention!

Plants, mushrooms

Although there are several species of trees and bushes in Mežaparks Park, pre-dominantly pines (including old ones, with the so-called crocodile-skin bark) and firs, the crack willow (secular tree) are found here, and in the undergrowth many hazels and brackens are seen. The former meadows are overgrowing with grey alders, while black alders are found in wet sites. Near the cemetery, an impressive linden tree, and at the foot of it — the lichen peltigera is seen. The alleys are turned into beautiful bright red colours during autumn by the spindle. And in spring it is a common place for blue and white anemones. The broad leaves of asarabaccas hide red blossoms underneath. Note the lily-of-the-valley and its berries are toxic! Meadow-sweets are found in the boggy grasslands in late summer. Older trees (along the access road to the palace) are covered in many species of lichen, which is an evidence for the clean air. On the trunks of the fallen trees, the so-called Artist’s Bracket (or Artist’s Conk) and the red banded polypore can be seen.

Birds

The best time to watch birds is May–June. During this time of the year, the birds are very active — they sing, protect their territory, and are busy making nests. Bird species typical to elder wood habitats can be seen in the parks of the palace — great spotted woodpecker, three-toed woodpecker, black woodpecker (the holes they make in old deadwood), tawny owl (tree hollows, its rutting-time songs at night). Often various species of tits (great tit, European crested tit, willow tit), Eurasian nuthatch, common blackbird are seen, the song thrush, jays, finches, etc. can be heard. On one of the small towers of Bīriņi Palace, the white stork is nesting for several years (its nest is seen in full if one steps up to the top of the great tower). Common guests in the pond or Lake Bīriņu are wild ducks. A careful watcher might spot crossbills in winter.

Animals

One can spot hares (or traces left behind — its droppings) in the woody parts of the park. Along the western slope of Mound Mežaparks (highest point rising above the alluvial grasslands), a small river flows, where the beaver has built its dam. In the vicinity, including on the shores of Lake Dzirnavu traces by beavers are seen — fallen trees with gnawed off bark. Traces by wild boar are obvious. During warm summer evenings (July), in the vicinity of Bīriņi Palace and above Lake Bīriņu several species of bats are seen. Once squirrels were often seen in the Palace Park. The growing number of martens accounts for the decrease of squirrels in the whole territory of Latvia.

Insects

Ant-hills are seen on the side of the paths. Mole-crickets are heard singing at the end of May. The old trees of the manor alley are home to a beetle rarely found in Europe — the hermit beetle.