Đelekovec, 14 May 2026 — A sculpture dedicated to the sand martin, created by master ceramicist Dragutin Ciglar Lao, was ceremonially unveiled in the central park of Đelekovec. The sculpture stands as a lasting tribute to the sand martin colony that nests each year in the steep sandy bank of the Drava River at Libanovec, proving year after year that coexistence between people and nature is not merely an ideal, but a reality.

The sand martin (Riparia riparia) is a strictly protected migratory species that travels more than 6,000 kilometres from central Africa to nest in the steep sandy banks of European rivers. Where sand martins nest successfully, rivers retain their natural dynamics — which is precisely what makes the species one of the most reliable indicators of a healthy river ecosystem. The colony at Libanovec is one of the few that has recorded a positive population growth trend over the past decade.

Đelekovec was designated Croatia’s first Sand Martin Village in 2024, a unique recognition that followed years of dedicated collaboration between the local community, family farm OPG Puhar, Croatian Waters and nature conservation organisation WWF Austria. The sculpture is now the physical expression of that status: a public, visible, permanent sign that this part of Podravina cares for its river and the life it sustains.

The event was opened by Lara Samošćanec Kiš, Mayor of the Municipality of Đelekovec, with the words: “When we received the status of Croatia’s first Sand Martin Village in 2024, we knew it wasn’t the end of the story — it was the beginning. This sculpture confirms something we believe: that a small community can take responsibility for the nature that surrounds it and be an example to others. We achieved this status together — residents, the school, the kindergarten and local associations. This sculpture is not just a statue in a park; it is a message that this community knows what it has and values it. That is an identity we are building through our history and passing on to the youngest generation.”

Nikola Cik, Director of the Tourism Board of the “Central Podravina” area, addressed those present: “Central Podravina has one of the most beautiful and healthiest rivers in Europe, but a river alone does not make a tourism story. The story is created when a community is woven into it. Đelekovec has told that story authentically: the sand martin has become a symbol that attracts visitors, educates children, inspires artists and has sparked an entire small ecosystem of creativity. The sculpture in the park now becomes a landmark on the Podravina map that we will show with pride. And I hope it will be an encouragement to other communities along the Drava to find their own story worth preserving.”

Tanja Nikowitz

“In the area of the UNESCO Five-Country Biosphere Reserve Mura–Drava–Danube, sand martin populations are declining. Rivers are losing their natural dynamics, banks are being reinforced and birds are losing their nesting sites. Đelekovec is moving in the opposite direction, and that is no coincidence,” said Tanja Nikowitz, nature conservation expert at WWF Austria, adding: “It is the result of a conscious community decision to give the river room. The colony at Libanovec is one of the few in the region that is growing, and that is why Đelekovec is more than an example of good practice: it is proof that recovery is possible! May the sculpture unveiled today be an invitation to other municipalities along the Drava to recognise the value of the river flowing beside them and of healthy, protected nature.”

Dragutin Ciglar Lao

“Every sculptor dreams at some point that their work will become part of a place — not just an ornament, but a sign. When I was asked to create a sculpture of the sand martin for Đelekovec, I knew this was exactly that kind of opportunity. This bird is not only beautiful — she is a messenger of the river. The work I created is not mine alone; it belongs to everyone who has protected that bank for years, who has watched the colony grow and who has understood what that means. It means a great deal to me that this sculpture will now remain in Đelekovec — forever,” concluded master ceramicist Dragutin Ciglar Lao, the author of the sculpture, who also created sand martin-themed souvenirs for the Tourism Board of the “Central Podravina” area.

A rich programme was prepared by pupils of the Mihovil Pavlek Miškina Primary School, members of the Vêndi Association for the Preservation of Natural and Cultural Heritage, Culture, Art and the Promotion of Rural Tourism, and Stjepan Žagač on guitar. Following the unveiling, an exhibition of artworks on the theme of sand martins was opened in the school premises — after Đelekovec, the exhibition will tour other towns and municipalities.

Photography: Marko Lorenzo Blaslov

Sand Martin_(c) Goran Safarek

Đelekovec, April 2026 – After a remarkable journey of more than 6,000 kilometres from their wintering grounds in Central Africa, crossing the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea, Sand Martins (Riparia riparia) have returned to the banks of the Drava River. These tiny birds, weighing no more than 15 grams, are among the first harbingers of spring — and this year they have returned to encouraging news.

The colony at the Libanovec site near Đelekovec grew to a record 1,800 breeding pairs in 2025 — nearly 700 more than the 1,100 pairs recorded in 2018. At a time when sand martin populations across Europe are steadily declining, Đelekovec is becoming a powerful example of how nature can recover when rivers are given space to flow freely.

Photo Zdenko Kereša

Sand martins depend on steep riverbanks formed by natural erosion. When riverbanks are artificially reinforced or rivers lose their natural dynamics, sand martins lose their nesting sites — and many other species disappear with them. Within the UNESCO Five-Country Mura–Drava–Danube Biosphere Reserve, sand martin populations are declining as natural riverbanks disappear. The Libanovec colony on the Drava River downstream from Legrad stands out as a rare and important conservation success story and is now one of the most significant sand martin habitats in Croatia.

The birds that keep the skies above the Drava clean

The sand martin is Europe’s smallest swallow — measuring just 12 centimetres in length and weighing around 15 grams. Unlike other swallows, it does not build mud nests; instead, it digs nesting burrows up to 70 centimetres deep into steep riverbanks each year. A single sand martin family can consume up to 10,000 insects per day, most of them mosquitoes. Where sand martins nest, rivers are alive and healthy — their presence is one of the most important indicators of a well-preserved river ecosystem.

The Sand Martin is a strictly protected species under the Croatian Nature Protection Act (Official Gazette 80/13, 5/18, 14/19, 127/19, 155/23), the Ordinance on Strictly Protected Species (Official Gazette 144/13 and 73/16), the EU Birds Directive (Annex I), as well as the Bern Convention and the Bonn Convention.

Đelekovec: a community protecting its river

Photo Marko Lorenzo Blaslov

Declared Croatia’s first Sand Martin Village in 2024, Đelekovec has become an important reference point for the protection of this species in the region. The success of the Libanovec colony is the result of years of cooperation between the Municipality of Đelekovec, the Puhar family farm, Hrvatske vode, and WWF Austria — a partnership that shows nature conservation can coexist with farming and everyday community life.

“I am proud of this achievement in protecting our natural heritage along the Drava River. The return of the sand martins shows how much we can accomplish when a community protects its river and the nature it lives alongside.”
— Lara Samošćanec Kiš, Mayor of the Municipality of Đelekovec

Lara Samošćanec Kiš, Mayor of the Municipality of Đelekovec and Mrs. Puhar, Family farm Puhar,  Photo Marko Horvat

Tanja Nikowitz, conservation expert at WWF Austria, added:

“We are eager to see whether this season will bring another record and how many breeding pairs will stay along the banks of the Drava this year. Đelekovec has shown that a local community can make a real difference in protecting natural values, and it stands as an important example for other communities within the UNESCO Five-Country Mura–Drava–Danube Biosphere Reserve. We hope that other municipalities along the Drava River will follow this example of good practice.”

Tanja Nikowitz, Photo Marko Horvat

How to help sand martins during the nesting season

The DRAVA LIFE project team and WWF Austria invite all visitors to the Drava River to respect the peace of steep sandy riverbanks during the nesting season, from April to July. Disturbance to the colony can cause birds to abandon their nests and may result in the loss of chicks.

Every visitor can help by following a few simple guidelines:

• Do not approach steep sandy riverbanks or climb and drive on them
• Observe the birds from a distance
• Keep drones, quad bikes, and off-lead dogs away from nesting colonies

Representatives of the DRAVA LIFE – Integrated River Management and LIFE RESTORE for MDD projects carried out a joint field visit to the restoration works at the “Stara Drava Varaždin (C.2)” side channel, one of the key river restoration measures along the Croatian stretch of the Drava River.

The intervention includes the restoration of a 2.56 km long side channel and improvements to river flow and retention capacity in the City of Varaždin area. The technical solution was developed during the DRAVA LIFE project (2015–2024), while construction is implemented by Croatian Waters, with a total investment value of EUR 1.67 million.

The restoration will enhance river connectivity, improve habitats for aquatic and floodplain species, and contribute to increased flood safety. The visit highlighted the importance of cooperation and knowledge exchange between LIFE projects working towards resilient and naturally functioning river systems.

C2_MP

C2 project