Rare images: photographer shows the wilderness at the doorstep of Vienna

A wildlife photographer has captured rare images of animals living in the wildlands just beyond Vienna’s doorstep, revealing a hidden ecosystem thriving near urban areas. Alexander Längauer, an IT project manager by profession, has turned his passion into a blog called 3Anger.at, documenting the diverse fauna found in the newly established Regional Park "DreiAnger" in northern Vienna. The park connects former villages such as Stammersdorf, Süßenbrunn, and Gerasdorf, blending concrete wastelands with natural landscapes. Among these areas are the Marchfeldkanal, which offers a gentle transition between environments, and more rugged zones like the Rautenweg landfill and the Seestadt Aspern district. Längauer's photographs include a white deer cow on a cornfield in Vienna-Donaustadt, a peregrine falcon perched on barbed wire at the Rautenweg landfill with a hardware store in the background, and a sea eagle being chased by ravens. These images highlight the coexistence of humans and wildlife in regions often overlooked for their ecological value. His goal is to bring nature closer to city dwellers and encourage them to explore the outdoors while respecting both animals and agricultural land. The Norbert-Scheed Forest, located between Breitenlee and Essling, has particularly captivated Längauer. This forest was planted in a steppe area amid fields, gravel ponds, and remnants of an abandoned railway yard at the Breitenlee marshalling yard. It represents part of the broader vision for the Regional Park: to complete the green belt surrounding Vienna. Recently, Längauer documented a rare sighting, a white deer cow in a maize field within the Breitenlee area. He described this encounter as akin to winning the lottery. Experts confirmed that the animal was likely a red deer with leucism, a genetic condition causing partial loss of pigmentation. Längauer chose not to disclose the exact location of the sighting to prevent crowds from gathering, emphasizing the need to protect the natural habitat. Längauer acknowledges the delicate balance between urban expansion and environmental preservation. While he supports the need to supply food to the Marchfeld region and the necessity of urban growth, he notes that much of the ecological equilibrium has already been disrupted. Rather than advocating for radical change, he aims to raise awareness about the fragile beauty of local wildlife. Among his notable captures are two cranes during mating season, a species listed as endangered in Austria with only 350 to 500 breeding pairs nationwide. Längauer recalls the experience vividly, how the birds grapple mid-air, spiral downward, and ideally break free before hitting the ground. He also photographed a dwarf eagle, a bird considered extinct or lost in Austria, which was passing through on its migration route northward. Despite not having a specific list of desired sightings, Längauer hopes to document the offspring of the crane pair soon. All of his photographs, along with future observations, will be shared on his blog. His work continues to shed light on the rich biodiversity existing just beyond the city limits, urging people to appreciate and protect these nearby natural spaces.