NATURAL ITINERARY: NATURAL RESERVES FOR BIRDWATCHING
BETWEEN VENDICARI AND LONGARINI

The extreme point of Sicily, cradle of the Terre dei due Mari, is a privileged stop for bird fluxes that migrate to northern Europe in spring to return to Africa in autumn, thanks to the presence of water guaranteed by the vast wetlands that characterize some parts of the territory. These marshes are often so rich in water during the winter season that they are abundantly full even in summer. Many observable species of fauna: Italian knight, gray herons, black storks, white storks, flamingos, egrets, spoonbills, mignattai, sea-urchins, jays, seagulls, terns, woodcocks, swamp hawks, pecks, ducks, widgeons . The Vendicari Wildlife Oasis (territory of Noto) is a natural paradise. Five kilometers of trail to discover among wonderful beaches, rocky coasts overlooking the sea, seabeds suitable for snorkeling, a fortified tower of the '400, the recently restored ancient tuna and the wetlands of the Pantani (big and small). A wonderful natural environment that hosts hundreds of bird species whose presence is diversified according to the season. Some species nest in these places, finding here the perfect natural habitat. In fact, the wildlife oasis guarantees the tranquility of the species being protected from noise pollution and external agents. The natural area is equipped with sighting huts located on the marshes. We recommend the use of binoculars for a more detailed observation. Continuing south, there are the Saline di Morghella. It is one of the largest marshes in the territory of Pachino: originally it was a reservoir, fed by rains, up to its transformation into salt. Dug in the Arab era, the salt pans were used until the 60s of 1900 and then decommissioned for the smallness of production compared to the richest in northwestern Sicily. Today, this stretch of water remains one of the privileged places to stop for birdlife, as it is bordering the sea. After passing through the small town of Portopalo di Capo Passero and its harbor harbor, you head towards the southernmost marshes of Italy: Pantani Ponterio, Ciaramiraro and Baronello. Among all are the youngest. Of the three, only the Baronello is still connected to the sea through a small canal, while the Pantano Ponterio, used in the past as salt, is isolated from the sea, having buried the communication channel after the subsequent abandonment of economic activities. These wetlands are part of the "Pantani della Sicilia sud - orientale" Nature Reserve, established in 2011 with the aim of protecting coastal humid environments that host wintering birds and allowing the nesting and nesting of the fauna, enhancing the Mediterranean vegetation for the protection of waterfowl. The largest swamp of all is the Longarini, in the territory of Ispica: a depression located a few hundred meters from the sea, containing salt water. Since the time of the Greeks and Romans, this area was used as an internal port (being bordering the coast) to protect ships loaded with goods. Today the Pantano Longarini, with its 200 hectares of lake area, offers shelter and refreshment to hundreds of volatile species. The easy access (directly from the road) allows you to admire the different species of birds without going between the trees and the reedbeds, in order to minimize the disturbance to the local fauna.

Source GAC dei due mari