THE FAUNA

The birds that can be observed today in the final stretch of the river and in
wetlands is still very rich thanks to the large variety of environments present
(courses freshwater marshes, brackish ponds, woods, cultivated fields, etc..),
Although not can be compared to the quantities and varieties that present
some decades ago, this not only to changes in the mouth but also for the
disappearance of the vast wetlands that surrounded the Pantano di Catania,
Lentini and Biviere of the swamps of Celsari There are many birds during the migration, stop at the mouth. Cenerino heron,
white heron,red heron, pittima, pittima real mignattaio, curlew, ischione,
Avocetta, volpoca, golden plover, woodcock of the sea, egret, sgarza ciuffetto,
Nitticora, spatula, fighter and knight of Italy are the most representative
species. Equally numerous are the birds settled. In the marsh areas are very common water hen and coot; Tuffetto the rarest, the Tarabusino, the ferruginous duck and porciglione. Among the vegetation, the nest Calandrelli, the nightingale of the river, the beccamoschino, the Cannaiola, the pendulum, the fratino and Fanelli. In open areas and pastures are the grille, the cappellacci, the occhiocotto and strillozzo. Tree found in areas capinere, Great Tit, Rampichini, jays and Verdon. The marginal areas are home grown or goldfinch, verzellino, passera sparrows, chaffinch, saltimpalo and more degraded, the magpie. In the bushes is the blackbird, while in rural areas and in buildings swift nests.The only birds of prey, nesting in the reserve are the kestrel and the barbagianni, which feed on small rodents and reptiles. Apart from birds, the wildlife heritage of the reserve is represented by: freshwater turtles (Emys orbicularis), natrici, large snakes (which feed on fish), including rare insects, foxes, weasels, hares and wild rabbits . Among the invertebrates, it is important the presence of species related to the sandy coast. On the shoreline there are several species of small crustaceans and amphipods Isopoda. In the area of dune itself are different species of insects that have unique ecological and behavioral adaptations to the dune. Among these are the Beetles Carabidi Scarites laevigatus and S. buparius, the first one found in the band closest to the sea while the latter typically present in the dunes. Some grasshoppers, which Acrotylus longipes and Sphingonotus candidus personatus, have a color very similar to that of the sandy substrate. The cicalone (Brachytrupes megacephalus), a large cricket for powerful today because rarefaction dell'antropizzazione and considerable trampling of the dunes caused by the numerous visitors of villages abusive, is abundant in some areas behind.