| Roman Coastal Reserve | Zones | Maccarese Ponds | Fauna

The wildlife

 The main wildlife found here, as in nearly all damp areas, is the Avifauna which are rich in numbers as well as quality especially in winter and the migratory period. There is also no shortage of an interesting assortment of mammals, reptiles and amphibians. The most important mammals are without a doubt both the fox and the nutria which are relatively easy to observe. Amongst the cold blooded animals you can find the dice snake (Natrix tessellata) and the grass snake (Natrix natrix) and in the canals of the "Bonifica di Maccarese" that lead from the Tiber to the Ponds, you can see the european pond turtle(Emys orbicularis). Walking along the paths that surround the ponds you might have a fleeting encounter with the yellow, green and black coloured whip snake (Coluber viridiflavus). As for the amphibians you can certainly find the toad (Bufo bufo) and green frogs (Rana esculenta and Rana lessonae), and groups of bullfrogs (Rana catesbeina) have also been spotted.
During the autumn and spring migratory periods you can also see a large number of species of birds. Ducks appear from autumn onwards with the wigeon (Anas penelope) dominating the area, followed by the teal (Anas crecca) and mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). You can also see the shoveler (Anas clypeata), the pintail (Anas acuta) and the rare red-crested pochard (Netta rufina).
Marzaiola
Garganey 
It's also worth mentioning the pochard (Aythya ferina), the gadwall (Anas strepera) and the extremely rare ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca) because they stay the winter through every year. Springtime sees the appearance of the garganey (Anas querquedula), an occasional sighting of geese (Anser spp.) and the even rare sighting of the tufted duck (Aythya fuligula) and of the shelduck (Tadorna tadorna).
Airone rosso
Purple heron
 Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) and little egretts (Egretta garzetta) are very common and sometimes seen during the summer months whereas the white egrets (Egretta alba) is seen only in the winter. During the migratory passes the squacco heron (Ardeola ralloides) makes an appearance along with the night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), the purple heron (Ardea purpurea) and occasionally the Bittern (Botaurus stellaris). In the spring the little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) arrives to set up home and nurture its family among the thick reeds and then in the autumn, it departs in the direction of Africa.

In winter non migratory nesting birds that strengthen in number are the coot (Fulica atra), the moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) and the water rail (Rallus equaticus). Ever present are the little grebes (Tachybaptus ruficollis) and in the winter months you can see the great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) and the black-necked grebe (Podiceps nigricollis).
Most of the LIMICOLI are seen in correspondence with the migratory periods, and beside the nesting little ringed plover (Charadrius dubius) you can see avocets (Recurvirostra avosetta), black-tailed godwits (Limosa limosa), black-winged silts (Himantopus himantopus), ruffs (Philomachus pugnax) and many others that stop to "refuel" during the long journey. Snipes(Gallinago gallinago) and lapwings (Vanellus vanellus) are a constant winter presence. 
Avocetta
Avocet
Many RAPACEOUS BIRDS take advantage of the prey available during the course of the year. The most common are the kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), the black kite (Milvus migrans), the marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus), the buzzard (Buteo buteo) and the peregrine (Falco peregrinus). Eleonora's falcon (Falco eleonorae), the short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) and the booted eagle (Hieraeetus pennatus) have also been seen.

In the reed-thickets there are numerous types of  PASSERIFORMES,  you can find the reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus), the great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) and Cetti's warbler (Cettia cetti)
Cannareccione (foto Roberto Trezza)
Great Reed Warbler

 
home page - LIPU Roman Coastal Branch This Web Site has been realized by the Lega Italiana Protezione Uccelli (Italian Society for the Protection of Birds) - Roman Coastal Branch. For any information contact us:
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Copyright foto Cannareccione © Roberto Trezza
Ultimo aggiornamento: 1/12/99
Copyright © 12/5/1997 Roberto Trezza - Luca Demartini - Vincenzo Trezza
Translated By Beverley Anne Carroll