Wet meadows are periodically or continuously flooded with water. Extending at the southern part of the freshwater marsh in Bertoška bonifika. They provide suitable resting and feeding grounds for birds due to the abundance of food in the soft soil. The reeds and sedge also provide a shelter for some species to hide from predators.
During the migration period, wet meadows are important for Curlew (Numenius arquata), Snipe (Gallinago gallinago), Ruff (Philomachus pugnax), Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa), different species of Sandpipers and Redshanks (Tringa spp.) and for many other waders.
At the outskirts of the wet meadows, small insectivore mammals such as Shrews (Crocidura sp.), European Mole (Talpa europaea) and Southern White-breasted Hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor) find plenty of food and shelter. Also the illusive Etruscan shrew (Suncus etruscus), smallest mammal in Europe, lives here but it’s hard to see.
The narrow-mouthed whorl snail (Vertigo angustior), a small snail with only 1.8 millimeter long house and Natura 2000 qualifying species, was also found here. From related species of this genus, the narrow-mouthed whorl snail is distinguished by its L-configuration house and habitat. It’s found in moss and litter in the wet meadows and in the riparian vegetation zone. In Škocjanski zatok the species is widespread along the freshwater ditches and on wet meadows.
 Photo: Nataša Šalaja |
 Photo: Nataša Šalaja |
 Photo: Nataša Šalaja |
