Almost 350 species reported in the last 50 years make the Po Delta the most important ornithological area in Italy and one of the foremost of its kind in Europe. A biological heritage of enormous variety due above all to the differentiation of the environments, in a continuous alternation between land and water.
From the green area of the Great Mesola Wood to the endless expanses of brackish water of the Comacchio valleys; from the Sacca di Goro to the freshwater valleys of Argenta and Ostellato: in these areas, numerous species of nesting, migratory and wintering birds find food and shelter: herons, grebes, cormorants, egrets, marsh harriers, flamingos, little terns, black-winged stilts, spoonbills are just some of the birds present that can be spotted.
So, armed with binoculars and spotting scopes, silent and stealthy among naturalistic oases of superb beauty, it is possible to admire the flight of a falcon, the dance of a crane, the courtship ritual of a pair of grebes or the delicate movements of flamingos at the first light of dawn. Here is a two-day itinerary to discover some of the main places for excellent bird sighting in the Ferrara area.
Useful info
A large lagoon enclosed between the Po di Goro and the Po di Volano, the Sacca di Goro extends for about 3,000 hectares; a part of it, called Valli di Gorino, includes areas of oases of immense naturalistic value and there is an observation tower for birdwatching, while the area on the sea is bordered by a long strip of sand known as the “Island of Love”.
Birdwatching: where and when
Birdwatching throughout the year, the area is, in fact, ideal for observing numerous bird species, with variable presences depending on the season
Located between the municipalities of Mesola, Goro and Codigoro, the Great Mesola Wood Nature Reserve covers an area of 1,058 hectares where you can observe the descendants of the ancient population of red deer (also known as dune deer), now flanked by numerous fallow deer, a species recently introduced.
The birdlife is represented by various types of Sylvids such as the blue tit, the great tit, the blackcap, the nightingale, the treecreeper, the golden oriole, and the hawfinch, to name just a few. Also present are the red woodpecker and the green woodpecker, the hoopoe and a large colony of wood pigeons.
There are five species of nocturnal birds of prey that usually frequent the woods: the barn owl, the owl, the short-eared owl, the tawny owl and the scops owl.
Useful info
The best time to visit the forest is undoubtedly spring, when birdsong is at its loudest.
There are three trails of varying lengths (1 or 3 hours) in the wood.
Moving southwards, the wonderful scenery of the Comacchio Lagoons opens up, which extend for about 11,000 hectares and represent one of the most important areas of the Po Delta Park from an ornithological point of view, where it is possible to practice birdwatching following different routes.
In spring, the spoonbill, black-winged stilt, oystercatcher, avocet, common tern, black-footed tern, Kentish plover, little tern and several species of seagulls including the coral gull arrive to nest.
In winter, in addition to the numerous species of waders such as the black-tailed godwit, greenshank, redshank, plover, and black-bellied sandpiper, you can also observe some Nordic species such as the goldeneye, the red-breasted merganser or the short-eared owl.
Muste see
The birdlife of the Comacchio Lagoons and Saltworks is extremely varied, but the crown jewel is represented by the pink flamingo, which nests in spring and then remains there throughout the year.
Large, colourful, elegant but bizarre, always gathered in large flocks, the flamingo is an extremely fascinating species and is also known to the general public of non-bird enthusiasts: in a short time after his appearance, it became a symbol of the Po Delta.
A few dozen kilometres from Comacchio, in the immediate vicinity of the town of Argenta and south of the Reno river, you reach the site of Val Campotto. The area extends for 600 hectares with freshwater lakes and a wooded area of 100 hectares.
Among the nesting species we note the black tern, the squacco Heron, the marsh warbler, the Savi's warbler, the great reed warbler and the Eurasian reed warbler.
Among the migratory birds there is also the presence of the osprey, while the wooded area is home to several species of sylvids, such as the melodious warbler, the oriole, the cuckoo, the grey shrike and the ortolan bunting.
To know
Val Campotto is characterised by the presence of one of the largest colonies of cormorants in Italy.
