At the Nature Reserve Niederlausitzer Landrücken is one Germany's most southern crane gathering and resting places. One assumes that this gathering and resting place exists at least since the start of our century.

image author: city-map Dahme Spreewald

The gathering and resting place encompasses basically the catchment arwa of the Berste upper reaches. Its foothills stretch in the south in parts to the slopes of the Niederlausitzer Landrücken and in the north to the outskirts of Luckau. Towards west and east existing food supply determine the area border.

The first pairs arrive with their young mid-July and join the non-breeding summering birds. The number of cranes increases steadily until mid-August. Beginning of September follows a noticeable increase. With that is the gathering process, which takes place before every migration period, completed.The area is from then on used by migrating cranes as resting place. The resting happenings reach in October its climax. Depending on weather and food supply the animals stay for some days to several weeks. The migration occurs in groups and takes usually till December.

The numerous cranes attract nature lover from near and far. That is the reason for the construction of two observation towers. The bigger of the two (between Freesdorf and Goßmar) has a platform height of 15m and can take up to 40 persons at one time.The visitor can enjoy an outstanding view - but the cranes stay undisturbed. Naturpark Niederlausitzer Landrücken
Visitor Centre and Administration
Luckauer Straße 1, 03246 Fürstlich Drehna
Tel. 035324/3050, Fax: 035324/30520