Lake Hornborga

Lake Hornborga (Hornborgasjön) is a shallow lake and protected wetland in Västra Götaland County, Sweden, internationally noted as a staging area for migrating common cranes. The lake’s shallow margins and surrounding reedbeds create prime habitat for waterbirds.

Every spring thousands of common cranes congregate at the lake during migration, drawing birdwatchers and seasonal visitors; observation hides and towers provide viewing opportunities and guided birdwatching is common. The site also supports a variety of duck and wader species and characteristic wetland vegetation.

Conservation management has included water-level regulation and habitat restoration to maintain the shallow wetland conditions favoured by cranes and other birds. Management aims to balance agricultural land use in the surrounding landscape with wetlands conservation.

Hornborga lies in the agricultural lowland of Västra Götaland, between the towns of Falköping and Skara, and is readily reachable by local roads from those towns.

• Crane spring: Peak crane-watching occurs in spring, most commonly in March and April, when thousands of common cranes gather at the lake on migration.
• Visitor facilities: The site has dedicated hides, observation towers and walking paths to view birds at close range while minimising disturbance.