Mallard ducks in front of Oberhofen castle.

Of laughing seagulls 
and faithful swans

With sunglasses and a picnic under their arm, locals and tourists alike locals and tourists alike stroll around Lake Thun – but not alone. Numerous animals can also be found in and around the cool waters. Fish frolic in the water, while ducks and swans take a leisurely stroll. Which animals are actually swimming across the lake?

Deutsch

Lake Thun is home to numerous bird species.

Eissstockschiessen auf dem Thuner Mühleplatz.

The duck and a swan for life

Anyone who thinks of ducks cannot avoid the image of a mallard. It is the most widespread green-winged duck in the world. The drakes are usually unmistakable with their iridescent green heads – but not always. From July to September, they wear a brown plumage like the females. It is not for nothing that we often associate swans with romance and love: the animals mate for life. Originally, the mute swan was native to north-eastern Europe and northern China. The first animals were released on Lake Thun in the 19th century. Nowadays, up to a dozen breeding pairs can be found here regularly. If you don’t want to incur the wrath of the parents, you should always make a large circle around the offspring.

The seagull that laughs

Anyone sitting by the lake in Gwatt and hearing the screeching of the laughing gulls could almost think they were lying on the beach in Italy despite the lower temperatures. In winter, the animals are regular visitors to the Swiss lakes and bring with them a bit of a summer vacation feeling. The animal shows little restraint and often finds itself in close proximity to humans – not least to steal the chunks of bread thrown to the ducks. Whereby it should be said: Please do not feed them! This is very unhealthy for the animals and, depending on the area around the area around Lake Thun even punishable by law.

Lake Thun is an important habitat for breeding birds.

The black-headed gull is the most common gull species on Lake Thun.