Oasi Lipu

Ambiente

Una vasta zona nella parte Nord Ovest dell’isola e’ un area protetta dove si trova anche l’Oasi Lipu.Caratterizzata da alte scogliere interrotte da canali che formano profonde insenature (Cala Fico, Cala Vinagra). Un paesaggio vulcanico dove l’erosione dovuta agli agenti atmosferici ha creato un paesaggio dall’aspra e affascinante bellezza.

Istituita nel 1991 dalla Lipu a tutela e per lo studio del Falco di Eleonora (Falco eleonorae) per il quale rappresenta uno dei siti di riproduzione piu importanti nel Mediterraneo, dove arriva dopo una lunga migrazione dal Madagascar e si ferma da maggio alla fine di settembre.

Dietro le scogliere la vegetazione è caratterizzata da bassi arbusti resistenti al vento ed alla salinita marina, queste specie si sono adattate alle condizioni estreme ed il loro caratteristico e persistente aroma profuma l’aria vicino alle scogliere. Piu all’interno la tipica macchia mediterranea include varie specie tra cui il mirto, il rosmarino selvatico, cisti ed erica arborea. Alcune delle piante endemiche sono particolarmente colorate.

Birds

Besides its special environmental features and the wide variety of plants there, Carloforte Reserve is an important place for a great many bird species to rest and to breed. The rarest and most important of these is Eleonora’s Falcon, a raptor which breeds exclusively on cliffs, high above the sea, on islands in the Mediterranean. It is a symbol of this reserve, which was specially established in order to guarantee its conservation and protection. Every year about 100 pairs arrive from Madagascar (where they overwinter) to breed on the island of San Pietro and, in summer, the cliffs of the reserve are alive with the calls and aerobatics of this fine raptor. For many years LIPU has organised a surveillance and study camp, aimed at preventing the extinction of the species due to the illegal shooting which used to occur. There are other raptor species in the reserve, Kestrels, Common Buzzards and Peregrine Falcons. Circling above the clear blue sea are very rare Audouin’s Gulls, another typical species of Mediterranean islands, and Shags, perched on rocks and fishing offshore, also catch our attention. Among the dense bushes of the Mediterranean macchia a noteworthy variety of small birds take refuge: Sardinian Warblers, Dartford Warblers, Marmora’s Warblers and Sub-alpine Warblers. From their perches on isolated rocks can be heard the melodious warbling song of Blue Rock Thrushes.

Other wildlife

Carloforte Reserve is also a precious haven for several other rare and localised animal species. In caves and wetter areas there is an endemic species of amphibian, and in dry sunny areas there are elusive colonies of yellow-green snakes. Towards nightfall rabbits appear among the bushes and several species of bats flit about the cliffs, rocks and pines.

Carloforte Reserve was established by collaboration between the Province of Cagliari, the Commune of Carloforte and LIPU.