Parque Natural da Ria Formosa
Visitantes
In this station we will have the opportunity to observe the existing birds.
The Ria Formosa is made up of a dense network of channels, separated by sand and marsh islets. There are several companies based in Faro or Olhão that make daily connections to the islands and which roam this area. Numerous waterfowl can be seen here, notably the little egret (present throughout the ria), the heron and the spoonbill. Sometimes you see some red-bellied turtle. The waders are very abundant, especially the oystercatcher, which is especially numerous here, sometimes with flocks of several hundred; Other species of waders commonly present are: the gray plover, the large-collared sandpiper, the interrupted collared sandpiper, the Galician torch, the right-billed torch, the fusel, the leg. Common Redbill, Rock Curlew and Sea Turtle. Other species that can be observed here are the Common Garajau and the Kingfisher. During winter it is common to see some black-necked grebes feeding on channels of the ria.
About
In the areas of vasa, a little farther ahead, it is possible to observe, especially during low tide, several birds feeding on the mud. These birds, generally called waders, feed on small organisms (worms, crustaceans, mollusks) that live buried in the pot.
Wetlands
Wetlands, considered for a long time to be worthless areas, sources of mosquitoes and bad smells, are now recognized as having high biological value, both in terms of birdlife and nursery zones of numerous species. of fish, mollusks, crustaceans, etc.
Frequent birds
The most common birds are the egret (Egretta garzetta), the gray heron (Ardea cinerea), the mosquito (Himantopus himantopus), the white stork (Ciconia ciconia), the red leg (Tringa totanus) and the sandpiper. -common (Calidris alpina). The Camão or Sultana Hen Porphyrio porphyrio, an emblematic species of the Park, is noteworthy. Due to the increasing protection and study of this species, its population has increased in recent years. Also noteworthy are the Egretta garzetta Egret colony, with Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia also nesting in a few years; and the populations of the White Stork Ciconia ciconia.
Wading Birds
Among the waders, we can highlight the interrupted Collared Plover Charadrius alexandrinus, the Collared Plover Charadrius hiaticula, the Gray Plover Pluvialis squatarola, the Limosa lapponica fusus, the Limosa Right-billed Cornflower Godwit, Numenius arquata, Tailor Recurvirostra avosetta, Long-legged or long-legged Himantopus himantopus, Little-headed Calidris minuta and Common-headed or Black-headed Calidris alpina.