BIRD SPECIES IN EACH REGION Southern Italy and

especially Campania have always been a favourite land for animal migration. Our territory is a must for migratory birds, a natural bridge between Eurasia and Africa, but also the resident species are innumerable. Ours is a little trip to some the most significant sites in this area

The Astroni Crater is one of the richest sites housing birds in the province of Naples.

About 130 species have been recorded in this area during the year.

ASTRONI OASIS

Walking in the Oasis it is very easy to see these beautiful animals like the peregrine falcon, which has nested here for many years.

The notes of wrens, chickadees, jays and the cince accompany us along the path.

When we get to Big Lake we can see many fascinating aquatic birds: the mallard, the coot and the kingfisher.

If we are lucky enough we can see the bittern in a reed thicket.It is very shy and has amazing mimetic abilities: if it has to defend

itself against a possible enemy, it takes advantage of its mimetic plumage and stands upright, with the beak upwards.

This way, it looks like a reed or, at least, it thinks so!

Vesuvius National Park

The birds that are found in this area are mostly migratory, because Vesuvius is located along the migration route that from south-Saharan Africa leads to the countries of central and north-western Europe where reproduction takes place. The species regularly reported within the park (both migratory and sedentary) are about 150.

It is frequent the view of the impressive imperial raven nesting on the rocks of Monte Somma. Among the birds of prey, the buzzard and the kestrel, which we can watch on the lava fields while hunting lizards and insects. The woods are the home of many other species such as the great spotted woodpecker, the hoopoe. the cuckoo and the turtle dove

At night the area is crowded with many species of owls among which the horned owl

The horned owl is a small owl that many guys know because it is the bird that belongs to one of the characters in Harry Potter saga. It has small size; its length in fact generally varies from 18 to 21 cm; The horned owl has a very distinctive call which also served as inspiration for the other term with which it is called in Italian: CHIU’

The coastline

Most of our land overlooks the sea, so the area is

home to a large number of seabirds on rocks, beaches

and islands. There are many species, both

resident and migratory, from cormorants to

oystercatchers.

The small island of Vivara, connected to Procida with a bridge, has hosted a centre for ornithological observation for many years. Here the birds are ringed and recorded.

• But the the king of our coast is of course the gull But the the king of our coast is the gull, of course !

ISIS TASSINARI POZZUOLI

COMENIUS

2012/14