Karst fields provide critical stopover habitats for birds on Adriatic Flyway migratory route in spring. Their flat, open landscapes offer abundant food and freshwater, making them ideal resting and foraging areas during long journeys. Seasonal flooding in karst fields creates rich wetlands that attract a variety of bird species, including waterfowl and waders. These areas serve as safe refuges where birds can replenish energy before continuing northward to breeding grounds. The biodiversity and ecological productivity of karst fields make them essential for the success of migration along this unique route.

            The Black-headed Yellow Wagtail is a subspecies of the Yellow Wagtail that inhabits open meadows, riverbanks, and agricultural fields across the Balkan Peninsula during the spring and summer months. The male is easily identified by its striking black head and vivid yellow underparts.

            Rose-coloured Starlings breed across a wide range extending from Turkey and Ukraine eastward to Mongolia, and they spend the winter in India. In certain years, they may wander into western Europe (including Herzegovina), where breeding occasionally takes place following these irregular movements.

            Sand Martins are thriving in Herzegovina. The region’s sandy cliffs and quarries provide ideal nesting sites for these small, agile birds.

            One particular site in Herzegovina, just outside of Mostar, hosts an extraordinary colony estimated at around 5,000 breeding pairs. This may well be one of the largest, if not the largest, Sand Martin colonies in Europe. The air above the colony is constantly alive with their rapid, fluttering flight. The abundance of Sand Martins attracts numerous species of birds of prey, which come to feed on them. This creates a dynamic and dramatic ecosystem where predator and prey coexist in a delicate balance.

            Balkan Green Lizard, is a large, vividly green reptile found across southern Europe, including Herzegovina. In this region, it thrives in warm, sunny habitats such as rocky hillsides, karst fields, and Mediterranean shrublands. It is an agile and territorial lizard, feeding primarily on insects and other small invertebrates. In Herzegovina’s mild climate, Balkan Green Lizard plays an important ecological role as both predator and prey within local ecosystems.

            The Short-eared Owl is a medium-sized, ground-nesting owl that occasionally breeds on the karst fields of Herzegovina. These wide, open grasslands provide suitable hunting grounds for its primary prey—small mammals, especially voles. In Herzegovina, the species is a sporadic breeder, with nesting occurring only in years when food availability is high.