Ventės Ragas Ornithological Station

Ventės Ragas has been monitoring bird migration since 1929, making it one of the oldest ornithological stations in Europe. Located at the tip of a peninsula reaching into the Curonian Lagoon, the station sits directly in one of the continent's most important migration flyways. Millions of birds pass through each spring and autumn, and the station's massive Heligoland traps — funnel-shaped nets up to 15 meters tall — capture birds for ringing and scientific study. Visitors can watch the ringing process, learn about migration patterns, and observe the extraordinary diversity of species that pass through this narrow corridor.