Spain Wildlife News and Updates

New nesting pairs of Spanish Imperial Eagle in Andalusia

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Last years 2020 breeding season for the Iberian Imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) has seen some excellent results with. There are new nesting pairs of Spanish Imperial Eagle in Andalusia and 138 hatchings were recorded in Andalusia with 122 leaving the nest successfully and only 13 cases of mortality. Most of the breeding pairs of the Iberian imperial eagle in Andalusia are located in the province of Jaén, where there are 50, while the province of Cordoba is in second place, with 32 pairs, and then Seville, with 27. The rest It is distributed between those of Huelva (6), Cádiz (5) and Granada (3).

This increase in new distribution areas in the provinces of Granada, Cádiz and in the Sierras Béticas of Jaén consolidates the viability of the Andalusian population, while the number of couples in Sierra Morena has grown, which has made it possible to unite the eastern and western sub-nuclei, increasing the population of the province of Seville by five pairs, where a population decline had been detected in recent years.

The breeding success of 2020 was certainly helped by the confinement due to the Covid-19 health crisis and the closure of sites where nesting took place which has reduced human disturbance to the reproductive pairs. Nesting habitat is usually dry, mature woodlands, which they utilize for nesting and seclusion, but nests are most often fairly close to shrubby openings and wetland areas where prey is more likely to be concentrated. A shy species, they normally nest only where human disturbance is quite low.

Read more about the Spanish Imperial Eagle on wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_imperial_eagle

Above image By José Antonio Lagier Martin – Imported from 500px (archived version) by the Archive Team. (detail page), CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=74215438

Read more about natural parks, wildlife and walking holidays in Andalucia here: https://wildsideholidays.co.uk/natural-and-national-parks-in-andalucia/

Ronda Today

Everything you need to know before you visit Ronda “The city of dreams” in Andalucia. https://www.rondatoday.com/

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Spain Wildlife News and Updates

Wild boar damaging wetland ecosystems

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A recent survey studying the impact of Iberian wild boar in the Tablas de Daimiel National Park has come to the conclusion that the population causes a serious threat to the ecosystem and threatens the reproductive success of aquatic birdlife in the area.

The Complutense University of Madrid and scientists from the Research Institute of Hunting Resources (IREC) has published the study in the journal Ecological Indicators, points out that the increase in wild boar that is taking place in almost 80% of the wetlands in Castilla la Mancha also affects adversely the population of the wild rabbit, which is a key prey food species for many threatened top level predators

The research has shown that the wild boar, thanks to its characteristics as an omnivorous, prolific and highly adaptable mammal, is expanding in the twenty-six wetlands analyzed, especially in the Tablas de Daimiel National Park, where its impact is reaching “ unsustainable levels”, warn the authors adding “The protection of certain environments and especially the absence of hunting favor the proliferation of wild boar, which has a cascading effect on the entire ecosystem.

The study is published here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X21002284

Read more about The Iberian Wild boar Here: https://wildsideholidays.co.uk/iberian-wild-boar-sus-scofra-jabali/

Join in on the discussion at the Iberia Nature Forum: https://iberianatureforum.com/forums/topic/wild-boar-damaging-wetland-ecosystems/

Spain Wildlife News and Updates

Diclofenac NSAIDS and the threat to Iberian vultures

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Such a shame that we still have this issue of Diclofenac NSAIDS and the threat to Iberian vultures after decades. Diclofenac seems to have killed the first vultures in Spain many years after the Asian populations were virtually wiped out by this drug used by vets.

Read about Diclofenac NSAIDS and the threat to Iberian vultures and join in on the conversations at the Iberia Nature Forum. https://iberianatureforum.com/forums/topic/diclofenacnsaids-and-the-threat-to-iberian-vultures/

The original study is here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969721019604?via%3Dihub

Ronda Today

Everything you need to know before you visit Ronda “The city of dreams” in Andalucia. https://www.rondatoday.com/

Wildside Holidays – Spain

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Natural Parks in Galicia

Dunas de Corrubedo y lagunas de Carregal y Vixán Natural Park

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  • Region: Galicia
  • Province: La Coruña
  • Declared a Natural Park: 1992
  • Park surface area: 1000 hectares
  • Nearest town: Riveira

Points of interest

The Dunas de Corrubedo y lagunas de Carregal y Vixán Natural Park covers about 10 km2 and is situated at the end of the Barbanza Peninsula between the Arosa and the Muros y Noya estuaries. Its international importance as a wetland has been recognised as a Ramsar site and the European Union has also included it within a Special Protection Area.

This area holds a dune system that includes a large shifting dune of over 1km in length, 250 metres wide and 20 metres in height. The site also includes the two main lagoons that are very different as the laguna de Vixán holds fresh water and the laguna de Carregal, salt water. There are also numerous streams that form an extensive marshy area and a stand of pine trees.

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The area provides an outstanding example of dune flora and is particularly notable for several endemic species and sub-species. The site supports salt-resistant vegetation and extensive reedbeds.
Numerous reptiles, amphibians, and mammals are present, and the area is an important habitat for breeding, migrating and wintering waterbirds.

There are a few self-guided and easy walking routes to take in the area. The three main ones are the Camino del agua, Camino del mar and Camino del viento that give an overall view of the different habitats and wildlife in each area.

Also, don’t miss the lookout point Pedra da Ra that gives a great perspective of the mobile dune area and several islands of the National Park of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia.

The Mirador de Castrocidá also gives fantastic panoramic views along the coast and the megalithic dolmen of Axeitos and Galician-Roman fort of Baroña are also well worth a visit.

Information/Visitors Centers

Information about the Dunas de Corrubedo y lagunas de Carregal y Vixán Natural Park, its wildlife and the network of footpaths in and around the dune area can be found at the Casa da Costa or Visitors’ Reception Centre located in Lugar do Vilar, Carreira.

There is also a fantastic interpretation centre close to the Casa da Costa info centre that houses the Centro de Interpretación do Ecosistema Litoral de Galicia which holds an interesting and informative museum covering the subjects of fauna, geology and historical past of the area.

Dunas de Corrubedo y lagunas de Carregal y Vixán Natural Park Birdwatching Hide
Dunas de Corrubedo y lagunas Natural Park Birdwatching Hide

The Galician tourist website has an official page here. https://www.turismo.gal/que-visitar/espazos-naturais/parques-naturais/complexo-dunar-de-corrubedo?langId=en_US

Iberia Nature Forum

Struggling with identifying those bugs and beasties? Why not check out the Iberia nature Forum!

Discover the Iberia Nature Forum – Environment, geography, nature, landscape, climate, culture, history, rural tourism and travel.

Take a trip on the Wildside! Discover the wildlife and nature of Spain, its Natural and National Parks and find the top wildlife, activity and walking holiday companies in Spain.

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