The fields with abundant blue cornflowers and red poppy offer a most colourful view. Woodlarks need grassland and sand-fields as their breeding ground. Fields and orchards - particularly those which are cultivated intensively - are important habitats for many interesting plant and animal species.

Of particular value for nature conservation are the orchards of high-trunk fruit trees , which grow on natural meadows. 

Fields, Orchards and Vineyards, S.Deąnik

Orchards of high-trunk fruit trees, S.Deąnik

Red poppy, blue cornflowers and kamilic a, M.Bedjanič,

One hundred and seventy four species of birds live in this mosaic-like intensively cultivated landscape, two of them also being of international significance: the Common Scops Owl and the Wood Lark.

The population of Common Scops Owls at Goričko is still quite numerous. Probably half of Slovenia's total population lives here. Goričko is one of the most important European habitats for these birds. They usually dwell in orchards of high-trunk trees.

The Eurasian Hoopoe is found here as well. This bird likes to nest in the hollow trees of fruit orchards.

Common Scops Owl (Otus scops), B.Novak	Common Scops Owl (Otus scops), D.Nill
Wood Lark (Lullula arborea), P.Buchner	Eurasian Hoopoe, (Upupa epops), D.Fekonja

The vegetation is rich also in the old vineyards with numerous low-growing, old, self-propagated varieties of vines. Numerous peach-seedlings grow in such vineyards; they, as well as the vines, must be protected since their natural methods of reproduction result in a great variety of colours and fruit flavours.

A rare bird resembling tropical bird species - with characteristically colourful feathers, the European Bee-eater likes to breed in dry sandstone walls. Further rare bird species living here are the Wryneck, the Grey-headed Woodpecker and the Whin-chat. Near Kučnici a small population of the European Roller may still be found, particularly on the Austrian side of the border.

However, Goricko is far richer in plant and animal species than described here. All living creatures have adapted to certain habitats and are threatened with extinction as soon the habitats themselves are endangered. Therefore, the protection of the habitats is a noble task for now and the future of the Nature Park Goričko.