Riserva Naturale della Valle Canal Novo
Protected Area
Identity Card
- Land Surface Area: 121.00 ha
- Regions: Friuli Venezia Giulia
- Provinces: Udine
- Municipalities: Marano Lagunare
- Establishment Measures: LR 42, art. 44 30/09/1996
- PA Official List: EUAP0978
- Park Authority: Comune di Marano Lagunare (organo gestore)
- Further information: www.turismo.fvg.it
- Scientific Data
Valle Canal Novo Nature Reserve
The so-called "valle" (deriving from the Latin vallum = embankment), once used for fish farming, is today a lagoon area characterized by stretches of water and shoals (lagoon formations that only exceptionally are submerged by water), protected from the tides by perimeter embankments. Two locks regulate the water level connecting the "valle" with the lagoon. The "valle" does not receives freshwater from the mainland, but only thanks to rainfall and to the presence of three artesian wells.
The Birds
Among the various animal species populating Valle Canal Novo, the most numerous and admired are without a doubt the bird species. Birds are dominated by the aquatic species or in some way linked to the water environment.
The best represented and abundant family is the Ducks family, whose species include the Mute Swan, the Whooper Swan, the Grayleg Goose, the Common Shelduck, the Common Teal, the Mallard, the Northern Pintail, the Garganey, the Northern Shoveler, the Common Pochard, and the Tufted Duck. If you are lucky, you may also sight the rare Smew or Ferruginous Duck.
| The Birds |
|||
| Gray Heron | Common Teal | Barn Owl | Bearded Reedling |
| Oystercatcher | Snipe | Great Reed Warbler | Black-winged Stilt |
| Little Owl | Northern Pintail | Cormorant | Marsh Harrier |
| Eurasian Widgeon | Red-crested Pochard | Coot | Common Seagull |
| Herring Gull | Moorhen | Little Egret | Mallard |
| Eurasian Eagle Owl | Garganey | Northern Shoveler | Reed Bunting |
| Common Pochard | Northern Lapwing | Common Merganser | Red-breasted Merganser |
| Common Tern | Great Crested Grebe | Eurasian Bittern | Little Grebe |
