The Lobau () is a

floodplain A floodplain or flood plain or bottomlands is an area of land adjacent to a river. Floodplains stretch from the banks of a river channel to the base of the enclosing valley, and experience flooding during periods of high Discharge (hydrolog ...

Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...

Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...

. Located in the south-east of the city, on the northern bank of the Danube, it is a part of the

Danube-Auen National Park Donau-Auen National Park () covers 93 square kilometres in Vienna and Lower Austria and is one of the largest remaining floodplains of the Danube in Middle Europe. The German word ''Aue'' (variant ''Au'') means "river island, wetland, flood ...

History

Before 1870

The Danube meandered through the flat Marchfeld, forming floodplains that constantly changed due to floods.

Battle of Aspern

On May 21 and 22, 1809, during the

War of the Fifth Coalition The War of the Fifth Coalition was a European conflict in 1809 that was part of the Napoleonic Wars and the Coalition Wars. The main conflict took place in Central Europe between the Austrian Empire of Francis I and Napoleon's French Emp ...

, the Lobau was the site of the Battle of Aspern. To confront the Austrian troops led by Archduke Charles stationed north of the Danube,

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...

ordered his army to cross the river in the Lobau area near Kaiserebersdorf. The crossing of the Danube was a challenging operation due to the need to cross several wide branches of the river, and the absence of any bridges. The Battle of Aspern was Napoleon's first defeat and led to the death of

Jean Lannes Jean Lannes, 1st Duke of Montebello, Prince of Siewierz (; 10 April 1769 – 31 May 1809), was a French military commander and a Marshal of the Empire who served during both the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He was one of Napol ...

, one of his most trusted marshals and a key figure in his military campaigns. The fighting took place north of the Lobau on open fields and in nearby villages, particularly

Aspern Aspern () is a neighbourhood in Vienna, Austria, within Donaustadt, the Districts of Vienna, 22nd district of Vienna. It has a population of 52,375 as of 2023 and covers an area of 19.89 km2. History The area is known for the Battle of Asp ...

and

Essling Essling
Essling entry in the Viennese government's history wiki (German) () is a neighbourhood ...

. After the battle, Napoleon retreated with his troops into the Lobau, which at the time was an island between the Danube branches, and set up his headquarters there for several weeks. On the night of July 5, 1809, Henri-Gatien Bertrand had several bridges built, allowing Napoleon to move 150,000 men to the left bank of the Danube in just a few hours. He then launched an immediate attack on the Austrian army and decisively defeated them at the

Battle of Wagram The Battle of Wagram (; 5–6 July 1809) was a military engagement of the Napoleonic Wars that ended in a costly but decisive victory for Emperor of the French, Emperor Napoleon's French and allied army against the Austrian Empire, Austrian arm ...

Today, locations like Napoleonstraße, monuments at Napoleon's headquarters (near the Panozzalacke), Napoleon's powder magazine, the French cemetery, the French crossing (south of Groß-Enzersdorf), and the Lion of Aspern commemorate the battle. In

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

, the Rue de Lobau by the Hôtel de Ville and the Avenue de Wagram, which leads to the

Arc de Triomphe The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile, often called simply the Arc de Triomphe, is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, France, standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly named Plac ...

, are named in remembrance of the battle and the subsequent victory.

Danube regulation

Following the Danube regulation in 1870, many of the river's side arms and floodplains in Vienna were filled in or developed, especially on the southern bank. In contrast, the northern bank, farther from the city, faced less urban pressure, allowing the Lobau to remain a preserved area for hunting, forestry, and agriculture, eventually becoming a popular recreational space. Historically, the Lobau was a royal hunting reserve, frequently visited by Crown Prince Rudolf. In 1903, Emperor Franz Joseph I. and King Edward VII of Britain embarked on a hunting trip there. In 1905, the Lobau was designated as a protected area, and in 1918, Emperor Charles I. gifted the Upper Lobau to the city of Vienna.

Development

The concept of a Danube-Oder Canal through the Lobau dates back to 1719, with construction commencing in 1939 during the

Nazi era Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a totalitarian dictat ...

. By the time work was halted, 4.2 kilometers of navigable canal had been completed. The Lobau Oil Harbor was established, including a refinery and large tank storage facilities. The canal split the Lobau into the Upper and Lower Lobau, with the Lower Lobau remaining largely untouched and natural, while the Upper Lobau was developed for agriculture. Forced laborers, primarily Soviet prisoners and Jews, were used in the construction of the refinery, which became a target of bombing raids. DOE Lobau

In addition, small areas of the Lobau were used for military exercises. The Lobau Groundwater Works, which provides Vienna with drinking water during peak demand, was also constructed in the area.

Conservation

The Lobau is a crucial refuge for endangered species and was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve from 1977 to 2016. Since 1978, it has been a

nature reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, funga, or features of geologic ...

, with a landscape protection area extending to Aspern, protecting a quarter of

Donaustadt Donaustadt (; "Danube City") is the 22nd district of Vienna, Austria (). Donaustadt is the easternmost district of Vienna.Statistik Austria, 2007, webpagestatistik.at-23450. Wien.gv.at webpage (see below: References). Geography The Donaustadt ...

In 1983, the Lower Lobau was designated a

Ramsar Wetland The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of Ramsar sites (wetlands). It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands. It i ...

area. Since 1996, the Lobau has been part of the

, which extends downstream into

Lower Austria Lower Austria ( , , abbreviated LA or NÖ) is one of the nine states of Austria, located in the northeastern corner of the country. Major cities are Amstetten, Lower Austria, Amstetten, Krems an der Donau, Wiener Neustadt and Sankt Pölten, which ...

, creating an ecological corridor with other protected areas. The Lobau is also connected to the Ramsar areas in

Slovakia Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the west, and the Czech Republic to the northwest. Slovakia's m ...

and the

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...

, forming a trilateral cross-border Ramsar area.

Leisure

After

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, the Lobau became a popular recreational area. Tram line 317 from Kagran transported people there, where they could enjoy long hikes and spend relaxing days by the water without encountering large crowds. In the 1920s,

naturism Naturism is a lifestyle of practicing non-sexual social nudity in private and in public; the word also refers to the cultural movement which advocates and defends that lifestyle. Both may alternatively be called nudism. Though the two terms ar ...

, whether officially permitted or not, took off in the Lobau. Along its old river arms, naturist groups established meeting spots that continue to exist to this day. The ''Dechantlacke'' and ''Panozzalacke'' are popular swimming spots in the Lobau. A nature trail called ''Obere Lobau'' was established in the national park area. It runs from the park entrance at Saltenstraße to the entrance at Dechantweg. The Lobau is connected by numerous hiking trails, including the long-distance ''Ostösterreichischer Grenzlandweg'' and the European long-distance trails E4 and E8.

Ecology

The straightening of the river through the Danube regulation altered the Lobau's hydrology. The formerly flood-prone landscape transitioned into a groundwater-fed wetland, while many of the Danube’s main and side arms became stagnant water bodies, gradually filling with

sediment Sediment is a solid material that is transported to a new location where it is deposited. It occurs naturally and, through the processes of weathering and erosion, is broken down and subsequently sediment transport, transported by the action of ...

. The reduction in large-scale

flooding A flood is an overflow of water ( or rarely other fluids) that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods are of significant concern in agriculture, civi ...

and natural water flow disrupted ecological connections between the river and its floodplain, leading to a steady decline in groundwater and surface water levels. The Lower Lobau has been experiencing rapid

desiccation Desiccation is the state of extreme dryness, or the process of extreme drying. A desiccant is a hygroscopic (attracts and holds water) substance that induces or sustains such a state in its local vicinity in a moderately sealed container. The ...

and

sedimentation Sedimentation is the deposition of sediments. It takes place when particles in suspension settle out of the fluid in which they are entrained and come to rest against a barrier. This is due to their motion through the fluid in response to th ...

. A noticeable drop in water levels can be observed in the receding

groundwater Groundwater is the water present beneath Earth's surface in rock and Pore space in soil, soil pore spaces and in the fractures of stratum, rock formations. About 30 percent of all readily available fresh water in the world is groundwater. A unit ...

table and the frequent drying out of surface waters. These changes are largely attributed to river regulation efforts and the deepening of the Danube’s riverbed, a process intensified by

hydropower Hydropower (from Ancient Greek -, "water"), also known as water power or water energy, is the use of falling or fast-running water to Electricity generation, produce electricity or to power machines. This is achieved by energy transformation, ...

development. Additionally, sediment deposits in floodplain waters, shifts in the Danube’s flow patterns, and inadequate water management have further altered the ecosystem. As water levels decline, the region's

biodiversity Biodiversity is the variability of life, life on Earth. It can be measured on various levels. There is for example genetic variability, species diversity, ecosystem diversity and Phylogenetics, phylogenetic diversity. Diversity is not distribut ...

is also diminishing.

Water

The

oxbow lakes An oxbow lake is a U-shaped lake or stream pool, pool that forms when a wide meander of a river is meander cutoff, cut off, creating a free-standing body of water. The word "oxbow" can also refer to a U-shaped bend in a river or stream, whether ...

and

ponds A pond is a small, still, land-based body of water formed by pooling inside a depression, either naturally or artificially. A pond is smaller than a lake and there are no official criteria distinguishing the two, although defining a pond t ...

occasionally dry out completely. These standing or slow-flowing bodies of water support diverse plant communities, some of whom are highly endangered. Many of these species have adapted to the changes in water levels. During particularly dry years, the receding water creates extensive

mudflats Mudflats or mud flats, also known as tidal flats or, in Ireland, slob or slobs, are coastal wetlands that form in intertidal areas where sediments have been deposited by tides or rivers. A global analysis published in 2019 suggested that tidal ...

, which are subsequently colonized by specialized plant and animal species. Lobau in Wien-Aspern 2022-08-09 24

Endangered

aquatic plants Aquatic plants, also referred to as hydrophytes, are vascular plants and non-vascular plants that have adapted to live in aquatic environments ( saltwater or freshwater). In lakes, rivers and wetlands, aquatic vegetations provide cover for aquat ...

in the region include water violet (''Hottonia palustris''), various

pondweed Pondweed refers to many species and genera of aquatic plants and green algae: *''Potamogeton'', a diverse and worldwide genus *''Elodea'', found in North America *''Aponogeton'', in Africa, Asia and Australasia *''Groenlandia'', a genus of aquatic ...

species (''Potamogeton spp.''), water chestnut (''Trapa natans''), water crowfoot (''Ranunculus aquatilis''), and the carnivorous

bladderwort ''Utricularia'', commonly and collectively called the bladderworts, is a genus of carnivorous plants consisting of approximately 233 species (precise counts differ based on classification opinions; a 2001 publication lists 215 species).Salmon, Br ...

(''Utricularia''). Plants adapted to temporarily dry shorelines include spikerush (''Eleocharis''), mudwort (''Limosella''), beggarticks (''Bidens''), and club-rush (''Schoenoplectus''). Josefsteg Lobau 2022-08-09 04

The Josefsteg is a 135-meter-long pedestrian bridge in Vienna's Lobau area, spanning the Schröderwasser. It is surrounded by a sea of common reed (''Phragmites australis''). The bridge was rebuilt in 2020.

Softwood riparian forests

On freshly deposited

sand Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided mineral particles. Sand has various compositions but is usually defined by its grain size. Sand grains are smaller than gravel and coarser than silt. Sand can also refer to a textural ...

gravel Gravel () is a loose aggregation of rock fragments. Gravel occurs naturally on Earth as a result of sedimentation, sedimentary and erosion, erosive geological processes; it is also produced in large quantities commercially as crushed stone. Gr ...

, influenced by the type of substrate and its proximity to the river, an initial plant cover establishes itself. This marks the beginning of a typical

wetland A wetland is a distinct semi-aquatic ecosystem whose groundcovers are flooded or saturated in water, either permanently, for years or decades, or only seasonally. Flooding results in oxygen-poor ( anoxic) processes taking place, especially ...

succession Succession is the act or process of following in order or sequence. Governance and politics *Order of succession, in politics, the ascension to power by one ruler, official, or monarch after the death, resignation, or removal from office of ...

. The progression starts with herbaceous vegetation, followed by the growth of

willow Willows, also called sallows and osiers, of the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 350 species (plus numerous hybrids) of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions. Most species are known ...

shrubs, and eventually the establishment of

forest trees, leading to the development of

softwood Scots pine, a typical and well-known softwood Softwood is wood from gymnosperm trees such as conifers. The term is opposed to hardwood, which is the wood from angiosperm trees. The main differences between hardwoods and softwoods is that the sof ...

riparian forests. These forests are primarily composed of light-demanding

deciduous trees In the fields of horticulture and botany, the term deciduous () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, after flo ...

, such as

willows Willows, also called sallows and osiers, of the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 350 species (plus numerous hybrids) of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions. Most species are known ...

(''Salix spp.'') and poplars (''Populus spp.''), which require open, unshaded areas to thrive. Common species include white willow (''Salix alba''),

crack willow Crack frequently refers to: * Crack, a fracture in a body * Crack, a fracture (geology) in a rock * Crack, short for crack cocaine Crack(s) or The Crack may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * ''The Crack'', first album by The Ruts ...

(''Salix fragilis''),

European ash ''Fraxinus excelsior'', known as the ash, or European ash or common ash to distinguish it from other types of Fraxinus, ash, is a flowering plant species in the olive family Oleaceae. It is native throughout mainland Europe east to the Caucasus ...

(''Fraxinus excelsior''),

black poplar ''Populus nigra'', the black poplar, is a species of cottonwood poplar, the type species of section ''Aigeiros'' of the genus ''Populus'', native to Europe, southwest and central Asia, and northwest Africa.Flora Europaea''Populus nigra''/ref> ...

(''Populus nigra''), and

white poplar White poplar is a common name used to refer to several trees in the genus ''Populus ''Populus'' is a genus of 25–30 species of deciduous flowering plants in the family Salicaceae, native to most of the Northern Hemisphere. English names vari ...

(''Populus alba''). Lobau11

Hardwood riparian forests

If the river no longer periodically floods an area, different tree species may eventually establish themselves on the mature wetland soils after several generations of trees. This area is less frequently flooded but still remains influenced by the river, with its location being strongly impacted by fluctuations in groundwater levels driven by the Danube's high and low water events. Typical tree species in these forests include the fluttering elm (''Ulmus laevis''), field elm (''Ulmus minor''), ash (''Fraxinus excelsior''), small-leaved lime (''Tilia cordata''),

pedunculate oak ''Quercus robur'', the pedunculate oak, is a species of flowering plant in the beech and oak family, Fagaceae. It is a large tree, native to most of Europe and western Asia, and is widely cultivated in other temperate regions. It grows on soi ...

(''Quercus robur''), and white poplar (''Populus alba''). These habitats support a variety of specialized species, including beetles and their larvae, which live in the decaying wood of trees and shrubs. The tree stumps and dead trees are particularly important for bird life.

Dry gravel terraces (Heißländen)

Heißländen are

savanna A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) biome and ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach th ...

-like habitats that develop on thick gravel deposits in the Lobau. Trees grow only where the soil layer is deep enough and retains sufficient moisture. These areas are relatively common in the Lobau but can be extremely dry in some locations. The floodplains feature distinctive steppe-like dry gravel terraces known as ''Heißländen''. These areas, formed on deep gravel deposits, have limited water availability, allowing only drought-tolerant plants to thrive. Typical species found here include hawthorn (''Crataegus''), sea buckthorn (''Hippophae rhamnoides''), various

orchids Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Orchids are cosmopolitan plants that are found in almost every habitat on Earth ...

, barberry (''Berberis'')'','' and feather grass.

Lichens A lichen ( , ) is a hybrid colony (biology), colony of algae or cyanobacteria living symbiotically among hypha, filaments of multiple fungus species, along with yeasts and bacteria embedded in the cortex or "skin", in a mutualism (biology), m ...

and

mosses Mosses are small, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic division Bryophyta (, ) '' sensu stricto''. Bryophyta ('' sensu lato'', Schimp. 1879) may also refer to the parent group bryophytes, which comprise liverworts, mosses, and ho ...

, which can withstand dry conditions, are also common. The

praying mantis Mantises are an order (Mantodea) of insects that contains over 2,400 species in about 460 genera in 33 families. The largest family is the Mantidae ("mantids"). Mantises are distributed worldwide in temperate ...

, an insect native to extremely dry environments, is another notable species found in these habitats.

Wildlife

The Lobau supports a diverse range of flora and fauna due to its dynamic floodplain ecosystem. Seasonal flooding and varied habitats, including wetlands, forests, and river arms, create favorable conditions for numerous species.

Mammals

The Lobau provides habitat for over 30 species of

mammals A mammal () is a vertebrate animal of the class Mammalia (). Mammals are characterised by the presence of milk-producing mammary glands for feeding their young, a broad neocortex region of the brain, fur or hair, and three middle e ...

. One of the most notable is the

Eurasian beaver The Eurasian beaver (''Castor fiber'') or European beaver is a species of beaver widespread across Eurasia, with a rapidly increasing population of at least 1.5 million in 2020. The Eurasian beaver was hunted to near-extinction for both its fur ...

(''Castor fiber''), which was reintroduced in the 1970s after having been extirpated from Austria. Other mammals found in the area include

wild boar The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a Suidae, suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The speci ...

(''Sus scrofa''),

European otter The Eurasian otter (''Lutra lutra''), also known as the European otter, Eurasian river otter, European river otter, common otter, and Old World otter, is a semiaquatic mammal native to Eurasia and the Maghreb. The most widely distributed member o ...

(''Lutra lutra''), roe deer (''Capreolus capreolus''), Eurasian water shrew (''Neomys fodiens''),

red fox The red fox (''Vulpes vulpes'') is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the order Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere including most of North America, Europe and Asia, plus ...

(''Vulpes vulpes''), and

European hare The European hare (''Lepus europaeus''), also known as the brown hare, is a species of hare native to Europe and parts of Asia. It is among the largest hare species and is adapted to temperate, open country. Hares are herbivorous and feed mainly ...

(''Lepus europaeus''). Several bat species also inhabit the region, such as the common noctule (''Nyctalus noctula''), Natterer's bat (''Myotis nattereri''), and Daubenton's bat (''Myotis daubentonii'').

Reptiles and amphibians

The wetlands and forests of the Lobau provide a suitable habitat for a variety of

reptiles Reptiles, as commonly defined, are a group of tetrapods with an ectothermic metabolism and Amniotic egg, amniotic development. Living traditional reptiles comprise four Order (biology), orders: Testudines, Crocodilia, Squamata, and Rhynchocepha ...

and

amphibians Amphibians are ectothermic, anamniote, anamniotic, tetrapod, four-limbed vertebrate animals that constitute the class (biology), class Amphibia. In its broadest sense, it is a paraphyletic group encompassing all Tetrapod, tetrapods, but excl ...

. Among the reptiles found in the area are the

European pond turtle The European pond turtle (''Emys orbicularis''), also called Common name, commonly the European pond terrapin and the European pond tortoise, is a species of long-living freshwater turtle in the Family (biology), family Emydidae. The species is E ...

(''Emys orbicularis''), slow worm (''Anguis fragilis''), Aesculapian snake (''Zamenis longissimus''), dice snake (''Natrix tessellata''),

grass snake The grass snake (''Natrix natrix''), sometimes called the ringed snake or water snake, is a Eurasian semi-aquatic non- venomous colubrid snake. It is often found near water and feeds almost exclusively on amphibians. Subspecies Many subspecie ...

(''Natrix natrix''), and smooth snake (''Coronella austriaca''). Amphibians in the region include the

European tree frog The European tree frog (''Hyla arborea'') is a small tree frog. As traditionally defined, it was found throughout much of Europe, Asia and northern Africa, but based on molecular genetic and other data several populations formerly included in it ...

(''Hyla arborea''), agile frog (''Rana dalmatina''), European

fire-bellied toad The fire-bellied toads are a group of six species of small frogs (most species typically no longer than ) belonging to the genus ''Bombina''. The name "fire-bellied" is derived from the brightly colored red- or yellow-and-black patterns on the ...

(''Bombina bombina''), and Danube crested newt (''Triturus dobrogicus'').

Fish

The waterways of the Lobau also support diverse

fish A fish (: fish or fishes) is an aquatic animal, aquatic, Anamniotes, anamniotic, gill-bearing vertebrate animal with swimming fish fin, fins and craniate, a hard skull, but lacking limb (anatomy), limbs with digit (anatomy), digits. Fish can ...

species, such as the European bitterling (''Rhodeus amarus''),

common carp The common carp (''Cyprinus carpio''), also known as European carp, Eurasian carp, or simply carp, is a widespread freshwater fish of eutrophic waters in lakes and large rivers in Europe and Asia.Fishbase''Cyprinus carpio'' Linnaeus, 1758/ref>Ark ...

(''Cyprinus carpio''), pigo (''Rutilus pigus''), and European mudminnow (''Umbra krameri'').

Birds

The Lobau serves as a key stopover and wintering site for

migratory birds Bird migration is a seasonal movement of birds between breeding and wintering grounds that occurs twice a year. It is typically from north to south or from south to north. Migration is inherently risky, due to predation and mortality. The ...

. Fish-eating species include the

great cormorant The great cormorant (''Phalacrocorax carbo''), also known as just cormorant in Britain, as black shag or kawau in New Zealand, formerly also known as the great black cormorant across the Northern Hemisphere, the black cormorant in Australia, and ...

(''Phalacrocorax carbo''),

grey heron The grey heron (''Ardea cinerea'') is a long-legged wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia, and also parts of Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but some populations from the more norther ...

(''Ardea cinerea''), and

common kingfisher The common kingfisher (''Alcedo atthis''), also known as the Eurasian kingfisher and river kingfisher, is a small kingfisher with seven subspecies recognized within its wide distribution across Eurasia and North Africa. It is resident in much of ...

(''Alcedo atthis'').

Birds of prey Birds of prey or predatory birds, also known as (although not the same as) raptors, are hypercarnivorous bird species that actively predation, hunt and feed on other vertebrates (mainly mammals, reptiles and smaller birds). In addition to speed ...

found in the area include the

red kite The red kite (''Milvus milvus'') is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other Diurnality, diurnal Bird of prey, raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harrier (bird), harriers. The species currently breeds only i ...

(''Milvus milvus''),

white-tailed eagle The white-tailed eagle (''Haliaeetus albicilla''), sometimes known as the 'sea eagle', is a large bird of prey, widely distributed across temperate Eurasia. Like all eagles, it is a member of the family Accipitridae (or accipitrids) which also ...

(''Haliaeetus albicilla''), and

European honey buzzard The European honey buzzard (''Pernis apivorus''), also known as the pern or common pern, is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. Taxonomy The European honey buzzard was formally described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in ...

(''Pernis apivorus''). Other notable species include the middle spotted woodpecker (''Dendrocoptes medius'') and the

sand martin The sand martin (''Riparia riparia''), also known as collared sand martin or common sand martin, and in the Americas as the bank swallow, is a migratory passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae. It has a wide range in summer, embracing ...

(''Riparia riparia''). Amata phegea Kopula Lobau 20220606

Invertebrates

The Lobau is home to a wide range of

invertebrates Invertebrates are animals that neither develop nor retain a vertebral column (commonly known as a ''spine'' or ''backbone''), which evolved from the notochord. It is a paraphyletic grouping including all animals excluding the chordate subphylum ...

, including

mollusks Mollusca is a phylum of protostomic invertebrate animals, whose members are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 76,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized, making it the second-largest animal phylum after Arthropoda. The num ...

crustaceans Crustaceans (from Latin meaning: "those with shells" or "crusted ones") are invertebrate animals that constitute one group of Arthropod, arthropods that are traditionally a part of the subphylum Crustacea (), a large, diverse group of mainly aquat ...

arachnids Arachnids are arthropods in the class Arachnida () of the subphylum Chelicerata. Arachnida includes, among others, spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites, pseudoscorpions, harvestmen, camel spiders, whip spiders and vinegaroons. Adult arachnids ...

, and

insects Insects (from Latin ') are hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs of jointed ...

. Mollusks found in the area include the

duck mussel The duck mussel (''Anodonta anatina'') is a species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. Description See Animalbase below (external link). Right and left valve of the same specimen: File:Anodonta anatina 01.jpg, Ri ...

(''Anodonta anatina''), great pond snail (''Lymnaea stagnalis''), and Lister’s river snail (''Viviparus contectus''). The noble crayfish (''Astacus astacus'') represents the region’s crustaceans, while arachnids include the zebra spider (''Salticus scenicus'') and the tarantula wolf spider (''Lycosa singoriensis''). The

insect Insects (from Latin ') are Hexapoda, hexapod invertebrates of the class (biology), class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (Insect morphology#Head, head, ...

population is particularly diverse, featuring species such as the

dragonflies A dragonfly is a flying insect belonging to the infraorder Anisoptera below the order Odonata. About 3,000 extant species of dragonflies are known. Most are tropical, with fewer species in temperate regions. Loss of wetland habitat threate ...

green snaketail ''(Ophiogomphus cecilia)'' and Eurasian baskettail (''Epitheca bimaculata)'', the southern festoon butterfly (''Zerynthia polyxena)'', the European mantis (''Mantis religiosa''), the water strider (''Gerridae''), and the

stag beetle Stag beetles comprise the family Lucanidae. It has about 1,200 species of beetles in four subfamilies.Smith, A.B.T. (2006). A review of the family-group names for the superfamily Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera) with corrections to nomenclature and a c ...

(''Lucanidae'').

References

{{Districts of Donaustadt Donaustadt Biosphere reserves of Austria Landforms of Vienna Oil campaign of World War II Floodplains of Europe Ramsar sites in Austria Nude beaches