Arek Szymura “Pygmy Owl” Nature tours
With passion and knowledge for nature enthusiasts
Pygmy Owl © Mateusz Szymura
Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium passerinum) 
is the smallest owl in Europe that exists in the Bialowieza Forest.
Our family business name comes from smallest European owl and ability of Arek’s to stimulate this bird specimen without any technical equipment, but only by whistling.
Since the 80’s we have been working as tourist guides and in 2004 we started our family business offering guiding services with passion for nature that suit you interests, time and needs.
Whistling for Pygmy Owl © Mateusz Szymura
Arek (Arkadiusz) Szymura – now with over 30 years of experience in birdwatching, supporting researches and exploring Białowieża Primaeval Forest, he is an expert in the field of nature. For many years he was a teacher at the Forestry College in Białowieża where he taught botany. He is one of the four who in 1985 established Polish Society for Bird Protection (former name North Podlasian Society for Bird Protecion). One of his interests is music and once you are in Białowieża’s church you can listen to him playing organs.
Dancing with a bison © Mateusz Szymura
Mateusz (Mathew) Szymura– since 2004 he is employee of Białowieża National Park where he is the head of the Nature Conservation Department. Apart from 10 years of forestry education Arek gave him priceless lessons of Nature. In his career (since 1998) he guided thousands of people including prince Charles. Since 2009 he has been carrying out researches concentrated on birds.
You may find in internet many trip reports, where you will find our names 🙂
We had a fantastic time in the Strict Reserve and Wysokie Bagno with Arek with Pygmy Owl and Three-toed Woodpecker lifers for all three of us in our party. Later that evening Arek called up another Pygmy Owl for us, which showed really well perched on top of spruce tree, and we had a frustrating time time trying to pin down a calling Tengmalm’s Owl.
The following night Mateusz took us to the Great Snipe lek at Narew river walley, where we enjoyed the spectacle of 3-4 displaying male birds. An evening which even the mosquitoes couldn’t spoil for us!