INNATE Network - 2016 Brochure

2015 - 2016

8000 Hectares of Exclusive Estates 304 Birds to Observe 182 Species to Photograph

A new way to enjoy nature

OUR VISION A famous slogan of the more active and rooted conservancy world of our times goes like this: “Conservation without money is only conversation”, which for me is a real invitation to test myself in a tough task and without major reference points to act as guiding light.

Making nature an economic value, able to support and develop large territories, in order to create, even in the common people, the awareness that a flowering meadow full of butterflies and orchids may have a much higher value than a parking lot or an industrial warehouse, or that a wetland or a quality agricultural land may have a much higher value than the exploitation of timber or intensive agriculture.

When Skua was launched in 2008 I would have never thought to create, in a matter of a few years, a really unique project. We haven’t discovered anything new actually; there are dozens of reserve networks run by institutions or associations, but so far no one had really created a common denominator which could link even extremely different areas, which differ in terms of management and strategic targets. Landowners, conservation associations, public institutions, large protected areas and local companies, all working together for the creation of a new concept of nature tourism.

The road we’ve made so far and the road ahead, is all but easy; different visions and priorities, different countries with varied cultures and habits, are only a few of the challenges we have to face on a daily basis, in order to keep the control of the project and guarantee that every area is run and developed with the same technical and quality standards. But the results obtained in only three years suggest us that we have found the right key.

The network we present here is the first step of global scale project, whose aim is to prove that with the right technical skills, business vision, knowledge, passion and a special team, it is possible to create or restore natural areas for nature tourism, able to sustain themselves, to produce positive economic impact in the local territories and to support conservation actions.

All of this without of course cause even a minimal disturbance to habitats and species... A utopia? Come visit one or more of our reserves and you will find yourself immersed in an extremely real world, tailor made for you, where to relax and indulge in your passion. Each new client is for us a precious detail in order to prove that the natural richness, if well managed, can become a resource and be preserved for the future.

F. Filippini

Massimiliano Biasioli SKUA Nature Group Managing Director

1

PARTNERS We met SKUA in 2014 and from the very beginning both of us have been conscious of the possibility to achieve together common aims. For Foundation a partner like SKUA can concretely reach the target of using nature resources as an opportunity of new employments and local economy development. On the other hand SKUA found in the Foundation a precious operational arm for habitats and species conservation.

Our collaboration started with the Campanarios de Azaba Reserve, where in a few months a plan for the development of nature tourism has been made and several photographic hides have been built or renovated; facilities that now give an additional value to that wonderful place.

In SKUA we have found a very dynamic team, willing to reach concrete results and for the future we are already planning big and ambitious projects in Spain, Europe and.. not only there!

Therefore we have started a collaboration with SKUA Nature Group to develop a network of european private reserves that, in order to contribute to nature preservation, creates a sustainable territorial development through economical activities related to conservation.

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Arch. FNYH

Arch. FNYH

Arch. FNYH

Fundaci贸n Naturaleza y Hombre was created in 1994 with the aim to propose a balanced development between man and nature. FNYH works in the Cantabrian area and in Western Iberia, as well as in international projects.

Since it was founded, FNYH has carried out several conservation, cooperation, research projects and awareness campaign. In addition to that, FNYH wrote many books and collaborated in the realization of many nature documentaries.

So far lots of successful collaborations with public and private entities have been set.

Arch. FNYH

Carlos Sanchez FNYH President

In collaboration with:

Armenia Magica

To give the LIPU reserves an additional chance, combining their extraordinary nature moments with new tools to live and photograph their nature; this is the reason why LIPU has decided to start the adventure with SKUA Nature, being aware of the skills of Max Biasioli’s team.The new SKUA hides have already produced their first results in the LIPU reserve of Ostia’s CHM: wonderful pictures of herons, egrets, little bitterns. All of this with the point of reference of an ethical photography to guarantee nature conservation and the protection of its well-being.

Danilo Selvaggi - Lipu General Director – BirdLife Italy

In 2010 the Park started the collaboration with SKUA; Our nature areas have been the first reserves to be developed and included in their international Network. In a very short time we could see the development of different initiatives, reaching the aim to give new life and revitalise areas of great value that before were affected by lack of attention and a general state of abandon.Thanks to this project we have become aware of a particular value of our reserves that are now destinations for photographers coming from all the Italian Peninsula and abroad. New projects are planned for the next future, conservation actions dedicated to the reserves but also to the surrounding areas and the whole Park.

Dario Zocco - Po and Orba River Natural Park - General Director The first time I reached Ultima Frontiera I was captured by a beautiful feeling of isolation, I felt like a pioneer. Unintentionally, I started to daydream and make plans considering the unlimited opportunities which that paradise offers. Our dream led us, through many problems and not always knowing very well what to do, to what Ultima Frontiera today is, but nothing of all that would have been possible without the passion and the work of my friends Sorin and Javi, the professionalism of Max and his company, that saw as we did the potentialities of that place. I want then to thank all the team at Ultima Frontiera, the SKUA team, my associates of Gelmin and all those people that during these years helped us to realise our dream.

Eduardo Zorrilla - Ultima Frontiera’s Owner We have worked with Skua Nature as our ground operators since 2011 and they have organised highly successful tours for us to Italy, with a variety of different itineraries and themes, including Birds & Wine. We have also started to use there venues where they have installed photographic hides and we have had tours to Ultima Frontiera in Romania and have made plans for one to Spain. Ornitholidays has been impressed with the high level of detail and quality they manage to obtain in each of the tours where we have worked with them.

We thoroughly endorse their style and can recommend them for any tour you may be planning at the facilities they use.

Nigel Jones - Ornitholidays Director

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THE NETWORK

Ivalo

Helsinki

Riga

London

Amsterdam

Budapest

Milano

Santander

Bologna

Porto Roma Fiumicino

Madrid Lisboa

Sevilla

4

Bari Napoli

Countries where we work directly Countries with active projects and partnerns

SKUA Nature Group has created and manages the first project of Nature Reserves entirely developed for and dedicated to Nature Tourism and Nature Photography.

A new kind of offer, different from a simple itinerary in a destination or a photographic session in a hide, it’s a world entirely conceived and organised for nature lovers.

Our team also works in different countries in the creation of nature itineraries for territorial enhancement, independently or in collaboration with local agencies and authorities, to provide great birding and photographic expeditions in remote and evocative places with the support of the most experienced group in Europe in this field.

From North to South, from East to West, the Network aims to include the best and exclusive nature areas of all Europe and more, to gather them and strengthen their preservation.

A large Network, made to photograph and observe all the target species of the different countries and to have the opportunity to develop useful and concrete conservation and research actions to preserve these beautiful but fragile areas.

ROMANIA ULTIMA FRONTIERA - p. 12 Dobrogea - Danube Delta

ITALY PO RIVER & RICEFIELDS - p. 70 Piedmont - Vercelli’s Province CASCINA SPINOLA - p. 106 Piedmont - Vercelli’s Province VALLI DI ARGENTA - p. 78 Emilia Romagna - Po Delta area FRASSASI GORGE - p. 108 Marche - Appennino Marchigiano CHM LIPU OSTIA - p. 96 Lazio - Ostia, Roma WILD LUCANIA - p. 86 Basilicata - Lucanian Appennines VALLE CAVANATA - p. 116 Friuli Venezia Giulia - Grado

SPAIN LOS CAMPANARIOS - p. 34 Castilla y Leon - Campo de Azaba FINCA LA PARRILLA - p. 56 Extremadura - Monfrague N.P. DONA CATALINA - p. 110 Extremadura - Monroy’s steppes CENTRAL SPAIN - p. 112 Castilla y Leon - Avila area Tbilisi

MARISMAS DEL ALTAY - p. 117 Cantabria - Santander

Yerevan Bucarest

Constanta

LATVIA Tehran

WILD LATVIA - p. 114 Latgale - Latvia

NEW FRONTIERS Armenia - p. 122 Georgia - p. 128 Iran - p. 134

OUR SUGGESTIONS Get the best out of our Network- p. 140

5

14 NatureReserves 8000 Hectareswhereweworkeveryday 80 PhotoHides

M. Biasioli

... So far

6 - The Network

MORE THAN ...

150 15000

An incredible number of species to photograph in comfortable new generation hides. In every reserve, thanks to expert guides, you can find information and advices to take amazing pictures of target species, as well as to photograph less required but still very interesting and particular species.

Depending on the season, you can plan your experience and enjoy close encounters with your favourite species.

304

Bird species to observe

All our reserves are real nature paradises where every visitor is attended and supported with professionalism and courtesy.

Even if nature photography is a very important feature in our work, in all our areas we do also organize high level birdwatching and wildwatching tours. Our reserves offer the opportunity to easily observe rare species or species that are otherwise difficult to find in the Western Paleartic, such as Pallas’s Gull, Paddyfield Warbler, Booted Warbler, Red-necked Nightjar or Black-winged Kite.

D. Giuliani M. Mendi

Species to photograph

T. D’Arcangelo

182

L. Boscain

People reached each year

S. Stignani

Photographers using our hides each month

The Network - 7

OUR NATURE RESERVES Our Reserves are exclusive and unique places rich in wildlife, developed to offer all what a nature lover looks for and to make him/her enjoying a special experience in yet lesser known biodiversity hot-spots. The Network includes reserves in several countries and that helps you to observe or photograph the main target species of the area where these are located. The freedom that such places offer allows people to explore wild lands on their own with relaxing walkings or by electric cars, or accompanied by our expert guides searching for not only birds and mammals but also butterflies, dragonflies, amphibians, reptiles, plants, etc.

In addition to top birding and wildlife experiences, a special feature of our reserves is the new concept of hide photography: not only a mere daily use of a hide, but an entire world developed for photographers, where to find vehicles ad hoc modified (as boat hides or buggy hides), expeditions outside the reserve to enrich even more the portfolio and observations of species and go deeply into the atmosphere of the location; accommodation inside the reserve, to share with a limited number of people and only with people that share the same passion, and specially trained guides to make the experience memorable... And of course an high number of photographic hides to meet every photographer’s requirement (from towers to partially buried hides, from floating hides to the ones at the level of the tree canopy, and much more...)

8

9

I. Zuccolo

S. Stignani

10 - The Reserves

C. Galliani

D. Giuliani

In order to make a distinction and gather the reserves that present similarities, we have divided them into 3 macro-groups to differentiate usability, logistics and organization. However, each reserve has its own features that pratically lead to the fact that every project is different from the others and unique; it’s our team’s job to develop these areas in a way that guarantees and provides the same high qualitative and ethical standards, be it for hides or nature guiding or accommodation services.

The 3 macro-groups show the main features of each kind of reserve; from the most exclusive one to the local little jewels passing through projects that help not only nature but also the development of a local economy.The Reserves Network represents a new and secret world to discover and new photographic opportunities not to be missed!

3 WAYS TO EXPLORE NATURE IN TOTAL FREEDOM

ULTIMATE RESERVES Public or private large reserves (more than 500 hectares) where it’s possible to stay in exclusive lodges or hotels in the middle of nature, entirely organized for nature photography and nature tourism. Main features: • • • • •

Accommodation inside the estate open only to nature tourism groups Total freedom to move inside the reserve and choose among a high number of different photographic hides, all included in the experience Minimum number of 15 new generation photographic hides for several target species A number of facilities and paths inside the reserve and excursions in the surrounding areas to get the best of a full 8-days expedition.

International clientele

WIDESPREAD RESERVES Reserves that are widespread in a vast territory with the collaboration of different public or private entities or companies.These areas can include and gather single hides as well as small nature reserves or private areas. Main features: • • • •

Overnight stay close to the reserve in affiliated accommodation Minimum number of 5 new generation photographic hides Open to international groups or individuals for long week-ends or daily visits This kind of reserve is the one that is most indicated for the development of a local economy as it involves agreements with local professionals, authorities and accommodation facilities

LOCAL RESERVES Small reserves, sometimes included inside public or private areas, that reach a mainly local fruition, even if they can also be included in itineraries of photographic and nature expeditions.

Main features: • • • •

Minimum number of 3 new generation photographic hides Open to individuals or small groups for daily visits or 2-days visits Some of these reserves have affiliated accommodation in nearby town or in the surroundings Mainly for a local clientele but a good opportunity also for tourists and international photographers visiting the area.

The Reserves - 11

ULTIMA FRONTIERA Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Periprava - Dobrogea - Romania N째 max clients each year 300 people

Opening period

15 april - 30 september 2016

Accommodation

4-stars hotel: large rooms with satellite tv and large en-suite bathrooms; a restaurant with outside terrace; free wireless internet connection.

Contacts ultimafrontiera@skuanature.com

30 1000 Photo Hides

Bucarest

Constanta

P. Dieudonne

Hectares

ULTIMA FRONTIERA

14 - Danube Delta - Romania

P. Dieudonne

L. Boscain

M. Biasioli M. Andreini

P. Dieudonne

Reaching Ultima Frontiera is already an adventure on its own; situated at more than 80 kilometres from the city of Tulcea and not connected by any road, you can only reach it by boat along the Danube river.

An exciting trip that will enable you to enter one of the greatest wetland in Europe, and to discover its flooded woods, small picturesque villages and an astonishing amount of birds. An experience which, differently from the usual cruise tours, we describe as unique because it allows you to explore huge areas both in small boats and in comfortable 4x4 vehicles.

The strategic location of the property means that you are able to visit remote and untouched areas such as the Letea Forest with its old oak trees and its large expanse of dunes, the salty steppes and flooded meadows, the huge system of lakes and ponds virtually untouched, and the Musura lagoon towards the Black Sea. This is a place where not only you can relax in perfect tranquillity, but where every visitor can explore on his own a vast area using small electric vehicles available at the lodge.

Dedicated areas for birdwatching and dragonflywatching, professional photographic hides of the latest generation, a large set of vehicles and photo and nature excursions in the best places of the Delta will make you go home with only one thought in mind... Coming back!

LIVING THE WILD DELTA

Ultima Frontiera - 15

THE RESERVE The lodge at Ultima Frontiera is a real technical challenge which allows you to enjoy your stay in one of the remotest areas in Europe with the very same level of comfort of your home. It has been built renovating an old twentieth century building, and it is situated in the heart of the property.

A unique atmosphere with the comfort of a 4-stars hotel: large rooms with satellite tv and large en-suite bathrooms; a restaurant with outside terrace where you can have dinner enjoying wonderful sunsets; free wireless internet connection available everywhere inside the hotel; The property around the hotel, during the communist regime, hosted a prison camp, subsequently turned into a fish farm; this troublesome past has given the area a peculiar aspect characterized by polygon shaped water bodies and basins, as well as by the presence of picturesque ruins and old buildings, now immersed in the natural vegetation and offering shelter to little owls, rollers and wildcats.This is one of the peculiar features of this place, the unequivocal predominance of nature, from the howling of the jackals at dinner time, to the frenetic activity of the hoopoes in the yard, from the nocturnal concert of the tree frogs, to the brawls among the grey headed woodpeckers on the thatched roof of the hotel: simply a unique place.

16 - Danube Delta - Romania

M. Biasioli

M. Andreini

M. Biasioli

M. Steenhaut

M. Biasioli

One thousand hectares of lakes, reedbeds, woodland and bushy areas surround a very high-quality lodge.

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

Only 12 visitors at a time are allowed to stay inside the estate, and therefore the network of over 30 kilometres of trails are at their exclusive disposal, to be explored on foot or on board the silent electric cars.These small vehicles are very good for approaching wild animals, and can be used as mobile hides for shooting great images.

And there’s no need to worry about getting lost, as knowledgeable local guides will help you memorize easy landmarks which, combined with the useful maps (one in every buggy) and the signage, will make the discovery on your own being a unique and relaxing experience.

Ultima Frontiera - 17

18 - Danube Delta - Romania

M. Biasioli

M. Affini

M. Affini

M. Biasioli

PHOTO HIDES

M. Andreini

M. Andreini

P. Dieudonne M. Biasioli

A wide range of photo hides of the latest generation give nature photographers a chance to test themselves with a multitude of different subjects, and perspectives being everytime in a new habitat and setting; form floating hides at water level, to drinking hides for woodpeckers and the dune-hide for white tailed eagles.Wide windows with very high-quality glasses and soundproof walls allow to observe the wildlife in an innovative way, reducing the disturbance to a minimum and ensuring the best naturalness in the animals‘ behaviour. Additionally, there are excursions on off road vehicles, to explore the surrounding steppes and the Letea forest, a Biosphere Reserve, as well as boat rides on an innovative boat-hide for visiting the big lakes in the heart of the delta.

M. Biasioli

M. Andreini

A wide range of photo hides of the latest generation

Ultima Frontiera - 19

M. Steenhaut

M. Biasioli

M. Vigo

The photo opportunities you can find in Ultima Frontiera are endless: each hide is focused on some target species, but the area is so exceptional that surprises arrive on a daily basis. A wildcat may appear on the edge of a drinking spot, black or grey headed woodpeckers may choose to drum on the trees where white tailed eagles usually perch, or the whiskered face of an otter may emerge close to pigmy cormorants and Ferruginous ducks in front of a waterside hide. The large mirrored windows will allow not to loose any of these scenes, ensuring the chance of trying inventive flying shots of even the more wary raptor.

S O N D J F M AM J J A

T. D’Arcangelo

L. Boscain

T. D’Arcangelo

M. Valentini

T. D’Arcangelo

D. Giuliani

INFO skuanature.com - ultimafrontiera@skuanature.com

M. Biasioli

CALENDAR

20 - Danube Delta - Romania

D. Giuliani

M. Valentini

D. Giuliani

M. Vigo

P. Dieudonne

PHOTOGRAPHY

Ultima Frontiera - 21

M. Steenhaut

22 - Danube Delta - Romania

M. Premoli

D. Giuliani

T. D’Arcangelo T. D’Arcangelo

JACKALS & EAGLES

CALENDAR

S O N D J F M AM J J A

D. Petrescu

Ultima Frontiera is the best site in Europe for observing and photographing the Golden Jackal.

It’s an afro-asiatic species, reaching also eastern Europe, that is expanding towards western and northern Europe, having already reached Italy, Germany and Switzerland. Golden Jackals are regularly seen from our hides, and it’s not rare to see them interacting with White tailed Eagles: it’s not easy to predict who will win during such battles, and therefore everytime it’s a different situation, and witnessing these scenes leaves you open-mouthed. White tailed Eagles have their nests in the nearby Letea forest and regularly come inside the property for hunting, and they can be photgraphed all year round form our hides

Ultima Frontiera - 23

24 - Danube Delta - Romania

230 bird species have been recorded so far inside the property: from Smews, Rough-legged Buzzards and Great Grey Shrikes in winter, to Red-breasted Geese, White-winged Terns and Red-breasted Flycatchers during migration, to 90 breeding species like Red-footed Falcon, Thrush Nightingale and Paddyfield Warbler, an exceptional heritage of ornithological diversity for such a small area.

Furthermore, there are colonial breeding species you can observe during excursions in the surrounding areas: Black-necked and Red-breasted Grebes and Black and Whiskered Terns in the Merhei and Matita lakes, Collared Pratincoles and Avocets in salty steppes, Great Black-headed Gulls and Sandwich Terns along the Black Sea shores.Thanks to its geographical position, Ultima Frontiera, not far from the sea and inside the Danube delta, offers to birders an incredible list of potential vagrants and rarities, among which in these last years there are Lesser White-fronted Goose, Great Spotted Eagle, Demoiselle Crane,Terek Sandpiper, Citrine Wagtail, Siberian Stonechat, Little Bunting and so on.

Among the easiest species to find, especially in early spring and late summer, there are the four woodpeckers breeding species: Black, Grey-headed, Lesser Spotted and Great Spotted, with the bonus of Syrian Woodpecker, more common in the villages of Periprava, Letea and Sulina (and only rarely inside the property).

The immense reedbeds expanses support many interesting species, from Bittern, Little Bittern and Little Crake to various passerines perfectly adapted to this environment, from the light brown coloured Savi’s, Sedge, Moustached and Paddyfield Warbler, all breeding in Ultima Frontiera, to the more vividly coloured, and searched for by photographers, Bearded Reedlings, a common breeder even more numerous during migrations.

CALENDAR

M. Steenhaut

T. D’Arcangelo

B. Gil

L. Boscain

L. Boscain

BIRDS

S O N D J F M AM J J A

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

L. Boscain

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

T. D’Arcangelo

L. Zuntini

D. Giuliani

T. D’Arcangelo

230 bird species have been recorded so far inside the property

Ultima Frontiera - 25

M. Valentini

M. Biasioli

MAMMALS

M. Steenhaut

The best place in Europe to observe Golden Jackals

26 - Danube Delta - Romania

L. Boscain M. Biasioli

M. Steenhaut

S O N D J F MAM J J A

M. Biasioli

CALENDAR

M. Biasioli

The remoteness of the property is one of the reasons why mammals live undisturbed here, and not rarely move also by day. Not only Jackals, but also Otters and Wildcats can be observed in broad daylight, both from buggies or from the hides.

Dedicated night excursions offer the chance to spot the most reserved inhabitants of the property, like Racoon Dog, Badger, Beech Marten and Wild Boar. Some interesting smaller mammals are present, such as Northern White-breasted Hedgehog, Forest Dormouse and the tiny Harvest Mouse. The nearby Letea forest, where in the last century used to roam the last romanian Mooses, is a real hotspot for bats, with more than 20 species recorded, beside having good populations of Roe Deers, Jackals and Pine Martens.

Ultima Frontiera - 27

S O N D J F M AM J J A

L. Boscain

CALENDAR

28 - Danube Delta - Romania

L. Boscain

D. Giuliani

The concert of the amphibians is the soundtrack of the nights in Ultima Frontiera: thousands of Marsh Frogs, Fire-bellied Toads and Oriental Tree Frogs seemingly never lose their will to challenge one another in loud races. More discreet are Common Toad and Green Toad, pretty rare, and, moreover, the two newt species: Smooth and Danube Crested Newts. The cool summer nights hide the movements of the most searched for amphibian of the area, the Common Spadefoot: its underwater song is almost impossible to hear, but it’s not rare to find solitary individuals exploring the hotel garden, while the big tadpoles are regularly eaten

by Squacco Herons.

L. Boscain

AMPHIBIANS & REPTILES

C. Galliani

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

L. Boscain

One of the most common preys of egrets, ibis and storks are snakes: the two more common species being Dice Snake and Grass Snake. The latter has often a peculiar colour pattern, with longitudinal stripes or melanic forms, with some individuals entirely black and without the typical collar.

Regularly seen are also the native European Pond Turtles, with individuals crossing the trails or sunbathing in front of the hides.

Much rarer are Smooth Snake and Sand Lizard, while two very interesting species have been recorded in the nearby Letea forest, Meadow Viper and Steppe-runner.

Ultima Frontiera - 29

M. Biasioli

The property hosts damselflies and dragonflies belonging to over 30 different species: particularly rare and interesting are Dark Spreadwing, River Clubtail and Black Pennant, but more common ones are stunningly abundant, especially during the days when adults emerge and start flying.

Less numerous are the butterflies, with around 35 species recorded so far, among which Large Copper,Yellow-legged Tortoishell and Large Chequered Skipper. Some large moths are present, like Giant Peacock Moth and French Red Underwing, as well as large beetles like Rhinoceros Beetle and Anoxia orientalis, while the praying mantis Empusa pennicornis is a real gem.

L. Boscain

L. Boscain M. Biasioli

30 - Danube Delta - Romania

L. Boscain

L. Boscain L. Boscain

L. Boscain

CALENDAR

S O N D J F M AM J J A

INSECTS & PLANTS

The huge expanses of freshwaters in the delta, beside obvious species like Yellow and White water-lilies, also host a multitude of other interesting aquatic plants: from Floating fern, to the Arrowhead, to the extremely delicate yellow flowers of the Greater bladderwort, a carnivore plant. May is the best month in order to appreciate all the extraordinary bloomings of Marsh orchid which paint in fuchsia the wet meadows, as well as for visiting the Letea forest, a real flowering garden with 10 orchid species, the splendid Hungarian iris and interesting species like Silk vine.

S O N D J F M AM J J A

M. Biasioli

L. Boscain

L. Boscain

M. Biasioli

L. Boscain

M. Biasioli

CALENDAR

Ultima Frontiera - 31

M. Andreini D. Giuliani

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

A WILD LAND

32 - Danube Delta - Romania

To the west of the estate lies the Letea forest: 2825 hectares of Biosphere Reserve, and one of the most ancient and well preserved biocoenosis in Romania. Centenary oaks, ashes, elms and lime trees, refuge for 5 species of woodpeckers, roe deers and wild boars, where various White tailed eagles have their nests, together with Booted and Lesser spotted eagles.

Dry meadows are also present, with 10 species of orchids, as well as unexpected sand dunes, abandoned by the sea which once reached here, and now surrounded by flat expanses of river sediments. Very interesting are also the scattered small villages in the steppes to the south of Ultima Frontiera: people living here belong to various ethnic groups: romanian, russian-lipovan and ukranian, which have resulted in cultural and achitectural peculiarities, making unique each different community. Among these, the village of Letea stands out as arguably the most beautiful, with its vividly coloured houses, fences and gates, its traditional fishing boats and nets, and its thatched roofs, made with local reeds.

M. Biasioli

D. Giuliani

It’s seems to be back to the last century

The island between the Danube branches of Chilia and Sulina hosts a population of wild horses, whose ancestors were brought here by the Tartars over 400 hundred years ago, and subsequently became wild. Nowadays a few thousands stallions and dams roam freely here, with their bay or black mantle, among sand dunes and meadows.They have no natural predators here, and therefore, in order to minimize the risks of overgrazing, it has been necessary to control their number and sterilise many of them, but still these beautiful animals are among the most longed for subjects by photographers, especially when they gallop freely in the steppe.

Ultima Frontiera - 33

LOS CAMPANARIOS

Oeste Iberico - Campo de Azaba Espeja - Castilla y Leon - Spain N째 max clients each year 270 people

Opening period All year round

Accommodation

4 stars casa rural inside the reserve, comfortable rooms with en-suite bathrooms, patio, little library, birdgarden.

Contacts campanarios@skuanature.com

10 522

Photo Hides Hectares

Porto Madrid

Sevilla

Arch. FNYH

Lisboa

LOS CAMPANARIOS

36 - West Iberian - Spain

S. Widdstrand / Arch. FNYH

M. Biasioli

Arch. FNYH Arch. FNYH

S. Widdstrand / Arch. FNYH

The dehesa, like many other mediterranean environments, preserves one of the highest level of biodiversity not only in Europe; it is classified as one of the global hot-spots. It is made of open woodlands of very old Holm oak, Cork oak and Portuguese oak, a man made habitat created thanks to his activities through the centuries, with the presence of cattle, pigs and sheep.Today the property takes part in a rewilding project, and this has allowed the introduction of Retuertas horses (one of the oldest breed in Europe) and of aurochslike cattle: these free roaming herbivores help preventing wild forest fires and maintaining open areas, and therefore guarantee an higher level of biodiversity.

Another ongoing project deals with the restocking of Wild Rabbits, in order to be able to have again, in the near future, Iberian Lynx and Spanish Imperial Eagle, whose diet consists largely of rabbits. A large-scale project whose ultimate goal is to bring back the Castilla y Leon region to its original naturalness, trying to maintain unaltered, as much as possible, the features of the open woodland of the dehesa which guarantee the survival of such a varied flora and fauna.

The western border of the reserve corresponds with the border with Portugal, while a few km to the east there is the historical town of Ciudad Rodrigo.The reserve is easy to reach from Madrid airport (3 h) as well as from the airport of Porto (2,30 h).

LIVING THE WILD DEHESA A hilly landscape among centenary oaks, holm oaks and cork oaks, wild horses and local cattle breeds. A rural landscape entirely dedicated to nature photography.

Los Campanarios - 37

THE RESERVE

Arch. FNYH

Arch. FNYH

A. Battisti

M. Biasioli

Arch. FNYH

In collaboration with:

38 - West Iberian - Spain

Campanarios de Azaba Biological Reserve was created by the Naturaleza y Hombre Foundation as a part of a LIFE + Nature project. Declared as Site of Community Importance, it’s also included in Natura 2000 Network. It’s a hilly land with several dirty roads used to reach the photographic hides and the biological station or just to enjoy relaxing nature walks, in total exclusivity and peace.

Thanks to the presence of different kinds of habitats, the Reserve represents now an important refuge area for fauna and flora, including not only birds and mammals but also reptiles, amphibians and insects.

Immersed in the Mediterranean woods of the Reserve, the “Monte Mediterraneo” Biological Station is an important centre of monitoring and nature conservation projects and here professional courses dedicated to several naturalistic topics are held.The building is made of wood and it’s perfectly integrated with the surrounding landscape, fed by solar energy.

Thanks to the incomes of nature tourism, it will be possible to run significant conservation actions and field researches aiming to contribute to the protection of this environment of extreme ecological importance.

M. Biasioli

Arch. FNYH

Arch. FNYH

Arch. FNYH Arch. FNYH

Within the Reserve, on the top of a hill from where you can enjoy a magnificent view over the boundless dehesa, there is a small and comfortable 4 stars rural house, preciously enriched with details that recall the natural world, an old fireplace perfectly working and a well-stocked corner-library. In spring and summer, meals are normally served outside, in the patio, under the porch surrounding the building, to fully enjoy the wonderful panorama and the animals that frequent the little birdgarden.The rural house has 8 suites with bathroom and 2 living rooms with large windows that allow a complete immersion in the spanish landscape, giving the chance to see some curious red foxes approaching during meals, as well as Azure-winged Magpie and Red-legged Partridge that come to the feeders.This eco-lodge follows the criterion of minimum environmental impact.

Los Campanarios - 39

T. D’Arcangelo

PHOTO HIDES

40 - West Iberian - Spain

CALENDAR

E. Natali

C. Romano

E. Natali

Inside the property some new generation hides have been built: in some cases structures already existing have been utilized, well integrated in the territory, like troughs and low buildings originally built by shepherds, while in other cases new facilities have been designed and built from the beginning, in order to attract birds. In addition to the hides designed for vultures, there are now many different kinds of drinking-points, from the pool in a lavender field, where beautiful backdrops for passerines are guaranteed, to an innovative arboreal hide able to attract the most elusive tree dwellers like various woodpeckers and Golden Orioles, to hides in the surroundings of the lodge, focused on the species more related to agropastoral habitats.

S O N D J F M AM J J A

M. Biasioli

E. Natali

E. Natali

E. Natali

T. D’Arcangelo

I. Zuccolo

INFO skuanature.com - campanarios@skuanature.com

Los Campanarios - 41

C. Romano

C. Romano

C. Romano

42 - West Iberian - Spain

T. D’Arcangelo

T. D’Arcangelo

Developed as “Ultimate Reserve”, the reserve has more than 522 hectares, equipped with many latest generation photographic hides: from the drinking hide at the height of the trees canopy to partially buried hides for vultures, from nocturnal hides to the tower hide for birds in flight; in Campanarios photographers can have a wide choice and the results are amazing! Furthermore photographic expeditions to strategic locations in surrounding areas will allow to increase the range with other interesting species of the Oeste Iberico, such as Spanish Ibex.

Specially trained guides will be at the disposal of photographers. Campanarios represents a different concept if compared to a simple photographic trip to places often enjoyed by a multitude of other people, families and tourists.

The Reserve offers an exclusive service in order to supply to the needs of the most demanding nature lovers.

The photographable species from the hides are various: from the drinking hides, they vary from Great and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, to numerous typically mediterranean passerines, like Cirl Bunting and Dartford Warbler, to species more related to woodlands, such as Nuthatch and Short-toed Treecreeper, or to open areas such as Iberian Azure-winged Magpie, Spotless Starling and Rock Sparrow.The undisputed star here is Red-legged Partridge, especially when it leans over the edge of a pool to drink, but occasionally also Brambling, Golden Oriole and Rock Bunting show up.

Among the target species are Black Vulture, Black Stork, Booted Eagle, Red Kite, Egyptian Vulture and many more.

M. Biasioli

PHOTOGRAPHY

A. Carati

J. Egert

E. Natali

L. Boscain

A little pearl of biodiversity in the wild dehesa

Los Campanarios - 43

VULTURE LAND LOW PERSPECTIVE HIDE

M. Biasioli

M. Ferrari

E. Natali

The first pecks to open a way through the hard skin of the dead herbivore, their heads covered in blood, their harsh calls in the air, the charges and attacks to defend their own vital space... but also the overall view of the whole group feeding, the conflicts between Cinereous and Griffon vultures, the dead trees covered with the dark shapes of the resting vultures: our biggest vulture hide offers all this and much more, at ground level, with the best perspective guaranteed.

44 - West Iberian - Spain

I. Doneddu

T. D’Arcangelo

At the break of dawn, when the skies are crossed by light clouds in their warm colours, the silhouettes of vultures and kites stands out against the sapphire sky on top of the old oaks. When the first lights hit them, they spread their wings to dry off the dew drops, take a look around and...they realize they’re hungry! A banquet has been prepared for them, but they are suspicious: will it be entirely safe? The first kites start to circle in the air, getting closer and closer, always a bit lower, and then suddenly descend to collect small meat scraps. Eventually the first braves to actually reach the banquet are always the Cinereous Vultures, followed by Griffon Vultures: when the sun is high in the sky, the meal has started.

Anyone can easily take pictures of flying vultures against the sky in Spain, being pretty widespread species, and therefore we have chosen to try and offer something different to our clients. Trying to follow the flight of a skydiving vulture against the dark green background of tree canopies can make the autofocus go crazy, but when talent and luck work together, then the resulting photos can really be masterpieces.

How many photographers want to take up our challenge?

C. Romano

TOWER HIDE

T. D’Arcangelo

E. Natali

T. D’Arcangelo

CLOSE-UP PICTURES HIDE Seeing a raptor in action is an unmatched experience, but being able to see it so close to actually feel like being part of the group of the feeding vultures, is an unimaginable emotion. You will be amazed by the vivid colours of the bare skin of a Cinereous Vulture, you will be able to take pictures, at a distance of only a few metres, of the messy white feathers on the neck of a Griffon Vulures under the rain, in a raindrops frenzy, and remain speechless in front of the beauty of the pure white plumage of an adult Egyptian Vulture.

Los Campanarios - 45

M. Mendi

BIRDS

The Los Campanarios de Azaba property is a real treasure of ornithological jewels. Not only vultures, but also Red Kites, Black Kites, Booted Eagles and Short-toed Eagles regularly fly over the oak tree tops looking for preys, while by the pools rich in amphibians herons and Black Storks take advantage of the croaking banquet. Some of the most colourful european birds are common here, from Bee-eaters to Azure-winged Magpies, from Hoopoes to Golden Orioles. small granivores passerines like Serins, Goldfinches and Cirl Bunting gather in the more open and grassy areas, while the lichen covered trunks attract a multitude of tits, Short-toed Treecreeper and Nuthatch. The more experienced birdwatchers will have the chance to test themselves in the identification of difficult species such as Crested and Thekla Larks, or with the multitude of juveniles and female warblers in the Brooms and Junipers during the summer, with interesting species like Dartford, Subalpine and Sardinian Warbler. Â It is possible to organise dedicate expeditions in order to find and photograph particular bird species, inside or in the immediate surroundings of the property, including dedicated night sessions looking for owls and Red-necked Nightjar as well as setting up temporary hides to maximise photo opportunities.

Find out how to do it!

46 - West Iberian - Spain

M. Mendi

M. Biasioli

I. Zuccolo

CALENDAR

S O N D J F M AM J J A

Los Campanarios - 47 Arch. FNYH

C. Galliani

M. Mendi

P. Jaez

M. Mendi

AMPHIBIANS & REPTILES

M. Biasioli

48 - West Iberian - Spain

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

T. D’Arcangelo

The Los Campanarios de Azaba property is a very interesting hotspot for amphibians, with at least 11 species recorded, whose importance has grown over the years thanks to the closure, with fences, of some of the richest pools, in order to protect their herpetofauna.

The coming and going of large animals like cows, domestic and wild pigs had caused the water to become murky and a reduction of the riparian vegetation, which is vital for larvae and adults of Iberian Ribbed Newt, Marbled Newt, Iberian Midwife Toad, Western Spadefoot, Natterjack Toad and Tree Frog. Fire Salamander and Bosca’s Newt are present in the more shady streams inside the property.

S. Genovese

S O N D J F M AM J J A

R. Sindaco

CALENDAR

C. Galliani

Reptiles are harder to find, but by no means less interesting: so far 10 species have been recorded, with the biggest being Montpellier Snake, with some individuals reaching a length of over two metres.

In more wet areas we can find Viperine Water Snake, one of the worst enemies of the amphibians. A typical inhabitant of the ditches, and therefore hard to see, is the Iberian Worm Lizard: it spends most of his life digging tunnels in the soft ground, and you can sometimes find it under stones and logs.Various species of lizards are present, including Iberian Wall Lizard, Spiny-footed Lizard, Large Psammodromus, Western three-toed Skink and, above all, Ocellated Lizard, the biggest lizard in Europe, with individuals reaching a length of over 80 centimetres.

It is possible to organize special expeditions for finding and photographing amphibians and reptiles, with dedicated boatrides and jeep rides, night sessions, and it is also possible to set up temporary terrariums and aquariums to maximise photo opportunities. Find out how to do it!

A. Battisti

D. Giuliani

Abbiamo creato un luogo dove non solo è possibile rilassarsi nella più totale tranquillità, ma in cui ogni visitatore potrà esplorare anche in modo autonomo un grande territorio grazie a piccole macchine elettriche a disposizione di ogni camera. Apposite aree attrezzate per il birdwatching e l’osservazione delle libellule, capanni fotografici professionali di ultima generazione, un cospicuo parco mezzi ed escursioni fotografiche o naturalistiche nei più bei luoghi del Delta del Danubio Le dimensioni della tenuta e l’incredibile dotazione di mezzi e strutture consentono a tutti i clienti di scegliere come organizzare le proprie giornate in totale libertà.

Los Campanarios - 49

PLANTS The dehesa is mainly made of Holm Oak, Cork Oak, Portuguese Oak and Narrow-leafed Ash. The shrub layer has been largely removed and replaced by open grazing areas, but where it’s still present, especially in steep and wet slopes, is made of Common Gum Cistus, Broteri Peony, White Spanish Broom and French Lavander, with a few rare Common Hawthorn and False Olive. A multitude of wild flowers are present, including Winter Narcissus, Andalusian Dutchman’s Pipe, Onionweed, Flax-leaved Daphne, Autumn Squill and many more.

M. Biasioli

S O N D J F M AM J J A

50 - West Iberian - Spain

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

CALENDAR

MAMMALS In addition to the species introduced thanks to the Rewilding Europe project, that are Retuertas horses, from Doñana, and aurochs-like cattle, there are many mammals inside the property: Wild Boar, Roe Deer and Red Fox can be observed also during the day, while Granada Hare becomes more visible at night. Strictly nocturnal carnivores like Weasel, Beech Marten, Polecat, Badger and, above all, Egyptian Mongoose, Common Genet and Wild Cat are definitely harder to spot. Smaller mammals are rather poorly known, though Garden Dormouse and Leisler’s Bat have been recorded.

Arch. FNYH

C. Galliani

A. Battisti C. Galliani

S O N D J F M AM J J A

M. Biasioli

E. Natali

CALENDAR

Los Campanarios - 51

A. Battisti

INSECTS

52 - West Iberian - Spain

A. Battisti

E. Mico / Arch. FNYH

T. NĂŠmeth / Arch. FNYH

A. Verdugo / Arch. FNYH

Campanarios was declared First Entomological Reserve of Spain by the Spanish Association of Entomology.

A. Battisti

A. Battisti

M. Biasioli A. Battisti

In 2013 the Reserve was declared First Entomological Reserve of Spain by the Spanish Association of Entomology. Campanarios de Azaba hosts indeed a considerable amount of Arthropods and populations of Insects included in the EU Habitat Directive, as Euphydryas aurinia, Limoniscus violaceus and Cerambyx cerdo mirbeckii, sign of a healthy environment. In addition to these, 20 species of beetles included in the European IUCN list have been identified, 6 of which are considered most threatened.

Being “Entomological Reserve� it means it represents an important site for the conservation of entomological species, but also a place where important studies, surveys and measures to protect wildlife are carried out as well as specific training programs, held by the Biological Station located inside the reserve. Campanarios de Azaba is a perfect place where to enjoy macro-photography sessions, alone or with the support of our local guide.

S O N D J F M AM J J A

A. Battisti

INFO skuanature.com - campanarios@skuanature.com

M. Biasioli

CALENDAR

Los Campanarios - 53

The Mediterranean ecosystem hosts one of the most high levels of biodiversity in the world. For this reason it was catalogued as hotspot of biodiversity.

Campanarios de Azaba is located within an area called “Oeste Iberico”(West Iberian), which includes territories of Extremadura, of a part of Castilla y Leon and Portugal.

The wildlife is a key element in the territory due to the impressive list of threatened species that inhabit here, as Spanish Ibex, Iberian Lynx, Black Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Black Stork, Bonelli’s Eagle and Peña de Francia Rock Lizard.

In addition there are other interesting species as European Roller, Black-winged Kite, Eagle Owl, Great spotted Cuckoo, Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Lesser Kestrel that contribute to enrich the precious natural heritage of the Oeste Iberico.

54 - West Iberian - Spain

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

THE WILD “OESTE IBERICO”

Los Campanarios - 55

T. D’Arcangelo

C. Galliani

T. D’Arcangelo

M. Biasioli

S. Genovese

FINCA LA PARRILLA Monfrague National Park Serrejon - Extremadura - Spain N째 max clients each year 270 people

Opening period All year round

Accommodation

3 stars casa rural inside the reserve, comfortable rooms with bathrooms, little library, birdgarden.

Contacts laparrilla@skuanature.com

10 1250 Photo Hides Hectares

Porto Madrid

Sevilla

M. Biasioli

Lisboa

FINCA LA PARRILLA

THE RESERVE

T. D’Arcangelo

P. Jaez

P. Jaez

P. Jaez

In collaboration with:

58 - Extremadura - Spain

The old Casa Rural in La Parrilla, now completely renovated and ready to accommodate its hosts, is situated in the heart of a 1250 hectares private estate. High on a hill, it offers a privileged view over the Tago river valley, over the dehesa and on the rocky cliffs of the Sierra La Parrilla. It is an eco-lodge with well-finished and charming furniture, modern and spacious rooms with en-suite facilities, a couple of living rooms where you can relax and a large table in the patio for open air dinners, so you will be constantly entertained by the flight of vultures: a real oasis of peace, where to adapt your pace to the pace of nature, with no hurry, for the Griffon Vultures are not in a hurry when they fly effortlessly in the blue sky .

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

M. Mendi

M. Biasioli

La Parrilla estate is inside the famous Monfragße National Park, which, with its 18.396 hectares, has been the first protected area to be declared in Extremadura, in 1979, and s ubsequently became a National Park in 2007, as well as being a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It’s a real jewel of biodiversity, protecting mediterranean forests and shrubby areas, famous worldwide for its invaluable environmental and particularly ornithological heritage: it hosts a huge population of different vultures species, it has one of the highest densities of the endemic and very rare Spanish Imperial Eagle, and during the winter impressive numbers of Common Cranes are present.

Finca La Parrilla - 59

60 - Extremadura - Spain

M. Biasioli

P. Jaez

P. Jaez

P. Jaez

P. Jaez

P. Jaez

P. Jaez

C. Romano

A drinking-hide built up in a tree immediately takes us in the shady atmosphere of a valley floor grove, where Golden Oriole and Hawfinch come to drink. A perfectly camouflaged rock-hide disappears among the rocks and stones on top of a cliff, offering a fantastic view over the dehesa down below and on the vultures coming back to their nests in the sunset light.

A large drinking trough acts as a magnet for passerines in the surroundings of the lodge, from Linnets to Red-rumped Swallows and Crested Larks. A floating-hide allows to take pictures of very intimate moments, when scavenger birds take a bath after their meal.These are only a few of the many opportunities you have in this reserve.

P. Jaez

PHOTO HIDES

P. Jaez

P. Jaez

innovative solutions to support animals’s behaviour

Finca La Parrilla - 61

C. Romano C. Romano C. Romano

The estate offers countless opportunities to the nature photographer: from Red Deers in their rutting season, to an old stump of a Cork Oak where Blue Rock-thrush and Woodchat Shrike perch, to the various feeding spots where raptors gather.

Some species regularly come to the drinking-hides, such as Barn Swallow, Spotless Starling and Spanish Sparrow, and with a bit of luck, and patience, many other species can turn up, from Dartford Warbler to Grey Wagtail and Sparrowhawk. The same is true for water birds from the hide at Los Majadales: Black Storks, herons and ducks frequently stop over here.

Not to mention the vultures fighting in the water that rapresents a unique show.

CALENDAR

S O N D J F M AM J J A

P. Jaez C. Romano

62 - Extremadura - Spain

P. Jaez

C. Romano P. Jaez

INFO skuanature.com - laparrilla@skuanature.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

M. Ferrari

L. Quaresma

L. Quaresma

P. Jaez

One of the very few hides in europe for photographing Golden Orioles

Finca La Parrilla - 63

M. Mendi

BIRDS

So far 180 bird species have been recorded in Monfragüe National Park, with more than a hundred breeding: La Parrilla estate hosts a lot of this biodiversity, including arguably the biggest colony in the world of Cinereous Vulture and the second biggest of Griffon Vulture.

And these are by no means the only raptors present here: at least three males of Eagle Owl sing from the rocky cliffs in front of the lodge, while a pair of Spanish Imperial Eagle has its nest nearby; Red Kites, Golden Eagles, Bonelli’s Eagles and Sparrowhawks fly over the area almost every day.Typical mediterranean species such as Thekla Lark, Red-rumped Swallow, Blue Rock-thrush, Woodchat Shrike and Spotless Starling can be seen in the more open areas, while the shrubby areas host a plethora of Sylvia warblers: Dartford, Subalpine, Sardinian, Common, Western Orphean and Iberian Chiffchaf. In the more humid areas, like the valley floors where streams flow, there are high densities of Golden Orioles, and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, Jays, Azure-winged Magpies and Hawfinches are all present.

It is possible to organize expeditions for finding and photographing particular birds inside the estate or in the immediate surroundings, dedicated night sessions for spotting owls, and also to set up temporary hides in order to maximise the photo opportunities.

Find out how to do it!

M. Mendi

M. Mendi

CALENDAR

64 - Extremadura - Spain

S O N D J F M AM J J A

T. D’Arcangelo P. Jaez P. Jaez

P. Jaez

M. Mendi

C. Galliani

Inside the estate one of the biggest european Black Vulture colonies

Finca La Parrilla - 65

MAMMALS Since La Parrilla includes a wide section of the integral natural reserve of the Monfrag端e National Park, a lot of the over 50 mammal species present can be seen, with a bit of luck. Not only the Red Deers coming close to the lodge in their rutting season, but also Red Fox and Beech Marten often come close to the buildings at night.

Even Wolf has been seen inside the property, while very interesting species present are Wild Cat, Common Genet and Egyptian Mongoose, typical african species, as well as Otter and Badger.

Among smaller mammals, Garden Dormouse and Southern Water Vole are worth mentioning.

It is possible to organize special expeditions for finding and photographing particular plants, insects and mammals, with dedicated walks and jeep rides, both at night and during the day, and it is also possible to set up nocturnal photo sessions.

Find out how to do it!

S O N D J F M AM J J A

P. Jaez

66 - Extremadura - Spain

C. Galliani

C. Galliani

P. Jaez

P. Jaez

CALENDAR

INSECTS & PLANTS The landscape of the property is made of two main environments: the dehesa, with scattered holm oaks and huge cork oaks, whose existence is guaranteed artificially through the grazing of goats, sheep and pigs; and the mediterranean scrub, of natural origin. Both these two environments host a large variety of plants and insects species. There are extraordinary bloomings of Common Gum Cistus and Broteroi Peony, along with a lot of other mediterranean species like Spanish Foxglove or Tongue Orchid, among which fly elegant butterflies like Spanish Festoon, Spanish Swallowtail and Two-tailed Pasha.

S O N D J F M AM J J A

P. Jaez

A. Battisti

C. Galliani

C. Galliani

C. Galliani

R. Sindaco

CALENDAR

Finca La Parrilla - 67

S O N D J F M AM J J A

R. Sindaco

CALENDAR

R. Sindaco

C. Galliani

C. Galliani

T. D’Arcangelo

AMPHIBIANS & REPTILES

68 - Extremadura - Spain

Though arid, the mediterranean scrub and the dehesa of Monfrague host an unexpected abundance of amphibian species, which reveal themselves during wet days and nights: Iberian Ribbed Newt, Pygmy Marbled Newt, Iberian Painted Frog, Western Spadefoot, Natterjack Toad, Mediterranean Tree Frog are only a few of the numerous species present here.

It is possible to organize special expeditions for finding and photographing particular reptiles and amphibian species, with dedicated night walks and jeep rides, and it is also possible to set up nocturnal photo sessions and temporary terrariums and aquariums to maximise photo opportunities. Find out how to do it!

C. Galliani

S O N D J F M AM J J A

P. Jaez

C. Galliani

G. Bissattini C. Galliani

CALENDAR

L. Boscain

M. Biasioli

The peculiar geological history of the Iberian Peninsula has strongly influenced its reptilian fauna: the temporary closure of the Gibraltar Strait has guaranteed an exchange between european and north african species, while glaciations have only lightly touched northern Spain, thus allowing the survival of tertiary fauna, unlike in the rest of Europe. All of this, together with the orography of the Iberian Peninsula and the climatic peculiarities typical of the mediterranean habitats, has made the Iberian Peninsula, and even more so the Monfragüe National Park, a real herpetological biodiversity treasure: a large part of the species are endemic or sub-endemic, like Iberian Worm Lizard, Ocellated Lizard, Ladder Snake, or species for which Spain represents the very core area of their distribution, like Spanish Pond Turtle, Iberian Wall Lizard, Horseshoe Whip Snake and Lataste’s Viper.

Finca La Parrilla - 69

PO RIVER & RICEFIELDS North West of Italy Vercelli/Alessandria - Piedmont - Italy N° max clients each year //

Opening period All year round

Accommodation

A comfortable guesthouse in one of the reserves and other accommodation in the surrounding areas - Locanda dell’Orso - Fontanetto Po - locandadellorso.eu - Residence Parco il Babi - Castell’Apertole - parcoilbabi.it

Contacts wildphoto@skuanature.com

10 150

Photo Hides Hectares

Milano

M. Biasioli

Torino

PO RIVER & RICEFIELDS

THE RESERVES

M. Biasioli

In the northwestern part of Italy, the Vercelli province is famous for the traditional rice-fields where in the past the seasonal job of mondine was fundamental to protect the growing rice plants from weeds (the mondina’s life has also been represented in lots of movies).

Rice fields are important rural habitats and feeding stations for several species, used as core areas or stepping stones. In this particular landscape we have developed local photographic reserves to help supporting conservation actions thanks to nature photography incomes.

The Palude di San Genuario Natural Reserve is part of the larger Parco fluviale del Po e dell’Orba, a regional Protected Area and it’s an important wetland with spring waters, entirely surrounded by rice fields. Declared SCI (Site of Community Importance) and SPA (Special Protection Areas), this reserve is one of the few places where Bittern, Little Bittern, Marsh Harrier Little Crake and Purple Heron nest side by side.

The second reserve called Fontana Gigante Natural Reserve, also included in the regional Protected Area, consists of marshes with spring waters where to find water bodies with abundant floating vegetation, reedbeds and a beautiful marsh forest.

M. Biasioli

In collaboration with:

72 - Piedmont - Italy

M. Biasioli

I. Zuccolo

M. Biasioli

Very close to this area lies one of the largest and oldest lowland forest in Italy, where one of the biggest european heron colonies is present

Po River & Ricefields - 73

I. Zuccolo

I. Zuccolo

I. Zuccolo

I. Zuccolo

74 - Piedmont - Italy

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

I. Zuccolo

PHOTO HIDES

In the reserves 10 hides are available. Here you can use drinking hides, fixed hides, as well as a floating hide and others in front of ponds to get perspectives at the water level. The bee-eater hide is placed inside another nearby area (near the village of Brusaschetto, on the other side of the Po river) and it’s included in a project of habitat restoration where a gravel pit was present. The 3 areas are closed to each others and this allows to visit them in just one day or a week end. These are exclusive natural areas open to photographers upon hide reservation.

The local guide and photographer is happy to welcome you in this particular territory where traditional agricolture has to be preserved for biodiversity purpose. A photographic excursion around the ricefields can be easily organized too.

M. Biasioli

S O N D J F M AM J J A

I. Zuccolo

M. Biasioli

CALENDAR

M. Biasioli

I. Zuccolo

Nature jewels surrounded by ricefields

Po River & Ricefields - 75

C. Alberto Conti

I. Zuccolo

These reserve offers opportunities to photograph species as Common Buzzard, Common Kingfisher, European Bee-eater, Red-backed Shrike, Eurasian Jay, Long tailed Tit, Great spotted Woodpecker, Bittern, Little Bittern, Purple Heron, Little Crake, Water Rail, Great reed Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Spotted Redshank, Black winged Stilt, Little Egret, Night Heron, Eurasian Coot, Garganey, Shoveler, Sacred Ibis and more.

In spring 2015 the Marsh Harrier decided to nest just in front of the Bittern Hide, allowing amazing shots.

Among mammals the Red Squirrel is the star of the drinking hide, often interacting with the Great-spotted Woodpecker, as well as the Red Fox that comes to look around. The Palude di San Genuario Reserve is also a well known hotspot for dragonflies and damselflies, with well over 30 species in the checklist.

Hides are available all year round, except for the Common Buzzard Hide and the Floating Hide (Fontana Gigante NR) that are open from october to march and the Bee-eater Hide open from may to july. Spring is a good time of the year for different species, while winter is good especially for Common Buzzard and summer for waders.

76 - Piedmont - Italy

I. Zuccolo

I. Zuccolo

M. Premoli

I. Zuccolo

I. Zuccolo

INFO skuanature.com - wildphoto@skuanature.com

M. Premoli

M. Ravasini

M. Premoli

I. Zuccolo

PHOTOGRAPHY

Po River & Ricefields - 77

VALLI DI ARGENTA North East of Italy Delta Po area – Ferrara - Italy N° max clients each year //

Opening period All year round

Accommodation

Affiliated accommodation in the surrounding areas - Agriturismo Vallesanta - Campotto - agriturismovallesanta.com - Agriturismo Bassara - Argenta - agriturismobassara.com

Contacts wildphoto@skuanature.com

8 1650 Photo Hides Hectares

Milano

S. Stignani

Bologna

VALLI DI ARGENTA

THE RESERVE

S. Stignani

S. Stignani

S. Stignani

S. Stignani

In collaboration with:

80 - Po Delta - Italy

The Po Delta area is well known as one of the most famous italian birding hotspots, with more than 300 bird species, as well as a good number of other groups of animals and plants too (i.e. 41 species of mammals, 15 species of reptiles, 1000 plant species, etc.).The National Park is divided into six “ stations� around the southern area of the Po Delta and the reserve is the sixth station.

The Valli di Argenta reserve, with its 1650 hectares of fresh water valleys, wet meadows and a strip of hygrophilous wood (150 hectares) represents one of the most important and extended fresh water wetlands of Northern Italy.

This area in 1976 has been declared as wetland of internacional importance as defined by the Ramsar Convention.This is the only inland part of the Po Delta National Park to present fresh waters, that come from the early XX century’s reclamation, now concentrated temporarily in overflow basins before being poured out into the Reno river; this is made in order to allow the area not to be hit again by disastrous floods, as it happened in the past.

From the Reno river, the water follows its way to the Adriatic Sea. The main hydraulic function of these valleys is undeniable and fundamental to guarantee the safety of the Bologna lowland. But these wetlands have also a very high value in terms of biodiversity and are very important for the conservation of numerous water species: for example in our reserve there is one of the most important italian colonies of Whiskered Terns, nesting among the widespread water lillies, abundant in the area.

The Valli di Argenta reserve is private: visits and the use of its available hides are upon reservation.

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S. Stignani

M. Gagliardone

S. Stignani

S. Stignani

C. Pedriali

A fresh water oasis inside the Delta Po Regional Park

82 - Po Delta - Italy

Inside the reserve 8 photographic hides are available. Hides are located in different kind of habitats, as for example in the hygrophilous wood, in the wet meadows, on the water, etc.

They have been built in different shapes (i.e. partially buried hides, drinking hides, with or without glasses, etc.) to offer different kinds of perspectives and the best photographic opportunities. The star of this place is the hide called The Arca, a boat hide located inside a big extension of water lilies that faces perches for the Whiskered Terns and other interesting species.

Hides are open all year round, except for The Arca Hide that is open from april to august and the Buzzard Hide that is available from september to may. All the seasons offer good photographic opportunities even if spring is the best in terms of quantity of species.

When you contact us we will be happy to give you all the information and advices to take pictures of your target species.

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S. Stignani M. Biasioli

S. Stignani

M. Biasioli

S. Stignani

CALENDAR

M. Biasioli

PHOTO HIDES

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PHOTOGRAPHY S. Stignani

The reserve can count on a kind of fauna that represents this part of Italy. Depending on the period, among the target species you can photograph: Whiskered Tern, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Common Kingfisher, Great spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Jay, Great Cormorant, Pigmy Cormorant, Avocet, Common Shelduck, Great White Egret, Grey Heron, Squacco Heron, Eurasian Spoonbill, and lots of waders (Black winged Stilt, Spotted Redshank, Black tailed Godwit, Ruff, Common Redshank). These species have been photographed in different situations, the Sparrowhawk bathing, Whiskered Terns feeding chicks, Kingfisher fishing, and more. Mammals such as Red Fox, Road Deer, Beech Marten and Crested Porcupine are present as well..

84 - Po Delta - Italy

R. Dionigi

C. Pedriali

S. Stignani

S. Stignani

INFO skuanature.com - wildphoto@skuanature.com

Valli di Argenta - 85

C. Pedriali

S. Stignani

S. Stignani

S. Stignani

WILD LUCANIA

South of Italy Potenza - Basilicata - Italy N째 max clients each year //

Opening period All year round

Accommodation

Affiliated accommodation close to the reserve - Agriturismo Zia Elena, Armento (Pz) agriturismodaziaelena.it

Contacts wildphoto@skuanature.com

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Photo Hides Hectares

Bari

A. Conte

Napoli

WILD LUCANIA

88 - Basilicata - Italy

P. Serrano

A. Conte

M. Piacentino

R.C. Rosenbauer

In the kingdom of the Appennines Wolves

THE RESERVE

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The reserve consists of different kinds of habitats; from the holm-oak wood to the mediterranean scrub, from the mountain meadows (with Brachypodium, Bromus, etc.) to shrubs areas (with hawthorn, Spanish broom, European Wild Pear, dog-rose). All these habitats host endemic species and very important populations of Egyptian Vulture, Black Stork, Red Kite, Otter, the endemic Apennine Yellow bellied Toad and Spectacled Salamader. Because of that all the area represents one of the most important locations in southern Italy for biodiversity conservation. In spring mediterranean wild flowers and particularly wild orchids abound here.

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A still uncontaminated land, where to find wild rivers, ideal habitat for Otter, and the Raparo mountains, where Apennine Wolf is present.

At only a few kilometres from the reserve lies the evocative landscape of Aliano’s “calanchi” (barren, sandy soiled, rocky hills), which can be easily visited.

In less than an hour driving it’s possible to reach the wonderful town of Matera, European capital of culture 2019, and home to hundreds breeding pairs of Lesser Kestrel; in 40 minutes driving there is the beautiful Ionian seacoast and in an hour the village of Maratea, with its picturesque coastal and mountain landscapes.

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The WILD LUCANIA widespread reserve is located in the very heart of Appennino Lucano-Val d’Agri-Lagonegrese National Park, a large protected area situated in Basilicata, whose perimeter includes some of the highest summits of the Lucanian Apennines, delimiting the upper valley of the river Agri. Being close to Pollino and Cilento National Parks, it represents a connection and an area of precious environmental continuity.The reserve is also close to the impressive Murge plateaux of San Lorenzo: spectacular conglomerate pinnacles created by the erosive action of the Agri, river that has shaped the entire hill turning it into a gorge reminiscent of an American canyon. Here Griffon and Egyptian vultures, Peregrine, Black Storks and lots of other interesting rare species nest.

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In collaboration with:

Wild Lucania - 89

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CALENDAR

90 - Basilicata - Italy

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Wild orchids are a particularly threatened group because of their ecological peculiarities that make increasingly difficult for them to find suitable habitats. Inside the park there are about 18 genera and 65 species of wild orchids (100 species for the whole Basilicata are known). Many of them are endemic, such as: Ophrys argolica subsp pollĂŹnensis, Ophrys pseudoatrata, Ophrys holosericea subsp. posidonia, Ophrys fusca subsp. lucana, Epipactis meridionalis.

Orchids tours can be easily organized.

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ENDEMISMS & RARITIES

The best place in southern Italy where to watch wildlife In the area of the reserve there are several amphibians and reptiles of great conservation importance, as endemic southern Italy or particularly rare species.

These species are the Apennine yellow-bellied toad (Bombina pachypus), the Italian stream frog (Rana italica), the Spectacled salamander (Salamandrina terdigitata), the Four-lined snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata), the Italian Aesculapian snake (Zamenis lineatus), the Italian crested newt (Triturus carnifex)

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CALENDAR

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Here Griffon and Egyptian vultures, Lanner Falcon, Black Storks and lots of other interesting rare species nest.

NOT ONLY PHOTOGRAPHY

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The goal of our project is the continuous monitoring of endangered birds of prey of the southern areas of the Appennino Lucano National Park. A deep knowledge of the habits of Red Kites, Griffon Vultures and Egyptian Vultures is essential to assess their condition and plan new actions in order to protect them.

92 - Basilicata - Italy

A. Conte

A. Conte

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PHOTO HIDES

Hides have been built using mainly wood and (like all the SKUA Nature’s Hides) avoiding toxic or damaging materials or substances, in total respect of the surrounding protected nature. All of them have been designed ad hoc for this location and offer great comfort in every season, thanks to an insulation system made with local natural materials. All the hides have glasses and have been placed in strategic sites, each one in a different kind of habitat (one of them is at an altitude of 950 meters ) in order to guarantee the highest possible number of species. Here there are 3 drinking hides for different species and a partially buried hide for vultures, kites and more.

The local coordinator and photographer is glad to welcome you in this precious southern Italy habitat and show you all the photographic opportunities offered by this wild and evocative land.

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

A. Conte

INFO skuanature.com - wildphoto@skuanature.com

Wild Lucania - 93

A. Conte

R.C. Rosenbauer

PHOTOGRAPHY

The warm and colorful light that it’s possible to find in this part of Italy (similar to the kind of light typical of Spain) gives to pictures a magic touch. Close pictures of Red kite landing or vultures fighting or curious red foxes are just some opportunities offerd by these hides, as well as natural behaviour scenes of common life of species as, for example: Red and Black Kite, Eurasian Griffon, Egyptian Vulture, Common Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Short toed Eagle, Raven, Magpie, Hooded Crow, European Stonechat and Whinchat, Red backed and Woodchat Shrike, Blackcap, Blue and Great Tits, Linnet, Subalpine Warbler, Corn and Cirl Bunting, Red Fox ... And Wolf!

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94 - Basilicata - Italy

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A. De Stafano

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CALENDAR

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L. Zuntini

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OSTIA LIDO RESERVE Ostia Lido - Rome Rome - Lazio - Italy

N째 max clients each year //

Opening period All year around

Accommodation

Affiliated accommodation close to the reserve - Hotel Sirenetta - Ostia Lido - hotelsirenettaostia.com

Contacts wildphoto@skuanature.com

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Photo Hides Hectares

F. Baccelli

Roma

CHM LIPU OSTIA

98 - Rome - Italy

D. Nicolae E. Natali

E. Natali

C. Romano

THE RESERVE

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A. Altomare

E. Natali

E. Natali

The CHM reserve is an Oasis of LIPU (BirdLife Italy) located in Ostia, the seacoast of Rome, near to the Tevere river mouth and at just few km from the Fiumicino airport. In the past this area was an open sky dump, sadly known as the site where the poet, writer and film director Pier Paolo Pasolini has been murdered. After a significant reclamation project, the requalification of the area started. More than 15 years later, the oasis represents now one of the most important example of successful project. Entering in the Oasis is like to travel back in time, as the typical natural ecosystem there was in the Roman seacoast until the XX century has been reproduced. Inside the area a perfect coastal pond of 11 hectares has also been made, surrounded by dunes of mediterranean scrub and meadows. Here, among a lush aquatic, riparian and scrubby vegetation 200 bird species has been calculated by census, with some rare species as Ferruginous Duck and breeding species as Purple Heron (the most important colony of the Lazio region).

M. De Silvi

In collaboration with:

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M. Biasioli

M. De Silvi

M. De Silvi

PHOTO HIDES

The reserve so far has 3 very good hides available. With the Floating Hide you can reach the internal part of a pond and choose to shot using the confortable seats or lying down to get a water level perspective. For this hide the early morning light is the best moment.

The Drinking Hide offers fresh and clean water in a place surrounded by salty and muddy ponds and different kind of passeriformes and other species comes to quench their thirst. The Hide n°4 (as it has been called) is a stilt construction built in the most hidden cornes of the oasis, surrounded 360° by nature and its warm and evocative light at the sunset offers amazing shots.

Every season offers the photography of its interesting target species, as described in the text of the previous page. Being an oasis close to the Rome’s seacoast visits in spring and summer allow you to enjoy also a nice swim in the sea.

100 - Rome - Italy

A. Benedetti

M. De Silvi

M. De Silvi

INFO skuanature.com - wildphoto@skuanature.com

E. Natali

An oasis close to the Rome’s seacoast

CHM LIPU Ostia - 101

M. De Silvi F. Baccelli

S. Cerisola

M. De Silvi

PHOTOGRAPHY

Census in the reserve reports more than 200 bird species and we can easily say that most of them are possible to photograph from our hides. In winter the main target species are Bittern and Ferruginous Duck, as well as Kingfisher, Moustached Warbler, Bluethroat, Cetti’s Warbler, and other species of passeriformes, rails, herons, and ducks.

At the end of the winter Little Crake and Water Rail chase one another in front of the glasses of the hide n°4, while in spring first Purple Herons, together with Little Bitterns (with their funny hunting movements), Squacco Herons, Night Herons and lots of migratory passerines comes. Summer is great for new borns that start to learn how to fly. Among other target species we find also Little Grebe, Marsh Harrier and lots of shorebirds and ducks.

102 - Rome - Italy

T. D’Arcangelo

S O N D J F M AM J J A

C. Pedriali

CALENDAR

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E. Natali

F. Baccelli

F. Baccelli

F. Baccelli

C. Pedriali

COMING SOON IN 2015/2016 The Network is constantly growing and our team is already working on several new reserves in different Countries. As explained before, our aim is to gather important nature areas that are frequented by the most representative target species of each country and develop in these areas a responsible nature tourism, in order to be able to run concrete conservation and research projects. The new reserves include different kind of habitats: from steppe-like habitat in Spain to the boreal forest in Latvia and the wetlands of the Po Delta in Italy, and more.

Private owners and public institutions constantly ask us to develop nature areas, with the goal of including them in our Network; most likely, next year scenario will see the inclusion of about 7 new reserves.

Cascina Spinola (Italy) Frasassi Gorge (Italy) Dona Catalina (Spain) Central Spain (Spain) Wild Latvia (Latvia) Valle Cavanata (Italy) Marisma de Alday (Spain)

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New Reserves New Photo Hides

M. Mendi

Hectares of nature

CASCINA SPINOLA The lowlands of the Vercelli’s plains are an area extremely favourable for farming, and the rice fields in the last century have become an almost uninterrupted extension. An old but still very efficient canal system has been providing the necessary water supply, and the whole area has been nicknamed “the squared sea”: Until very few years ago, these rice fields have played a key role as stop over sites for migrating herons and especially waders, as well as being of great importance for amphibians and insects. But nowadays the situation is getting worse, mainly due to massive use of pesticides and a lesser use of water during springtime.This introduction is necessary to understand the importance of creating new wetlands and the need to restore habitats: traditional rice fields can’t no longer act as substitutes for natural wetlands.Therefore the role that Cascina Spinola is set to play is absolutely unique and extremely precious: more than a hundred hectares of cultivated farmland will be turned into a wet natural habitat, which will include open body of waters, reedbeds and wet meadows.

M. Biasioli

I. Zuccolo

M. Biasioli

VERCELLI’S LOWLANDS PLAINS

106 - Piedmont - Italy

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

Black-winged Stilt Ruff Common Black Tern Herons Black-tailed Godwit Garganey INFO skuanature.com - info@skuanature.com The first restoration has already started and the first results are really promising: a number of herons, egrets, ducks and waders have used the area for feeding and roosting, and in the next few years we are sure that more and more birds will be present here. In particular, a target species is Black tailed Godwit, which has a breeding site nearby that is threathened by agricultural works, and therefore the Cascina Spinola area is hopefully going to become a stronghold for this species.

Fixed, mobile and floating photo hides will be realised soon in the whole area, and it will be possible to obtain great shots of species like all the european herons, Sacred Ibis, various ducks, marsh terns and a lot of wader species, especially during the spring passage.

M. Premoli

S. Stignani

M. Biasioli

MAIN FOCUS ON

Milano

Torino

This project, as usual, is a challenging task, and if everything will go as we hope for, it will be another proof that our idea of making nature a real economic value is worth to be trusted.

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FRASASSI GORGE J. Angelini

THE WILD CENTRAL APPENNINES

The Gorge has been formed due to a process of long-time erosion by the Sentino River and its over 500 meters high rock faces contain nest sites of rare and important rupicolous raptors, such as Lanner Falcon (3 nesting pairs), Peregrine Falcon (8 nesting pairs), Golden Eagle and the Eurasian Eagle Owl, uncommon in the Appennines.

The White-throated Dipper nests in the george at just 200 meters above sea level, creating nests in its karstic faces using moss.

The agricultural landscape and the mountain pasture with old breeds of cattle as the Marchigiana cow (descending from the ancestral Auroch) are also habitats of the Short-toed Snake Eagle and of the Red Kite. Among passerines we point out the rare Ortolan Bunting, that is here a common species, while Appennine Wolf and Wildcat among mammals species.

M. Biasioli

M. Mendi

M. Biasioli

J. Angelini

In collaboration with:

108 - Marche - Italy

M. Andreini M. Mendi

MAIN FOCUS ON Lanner Falcon Peregrine Falcon Red Kite Golden Eagle Dipper The Frasassi Gorge, close to Genga town (AN), represents a perl of biodiversity in an extraordinary scenery, unique in Europe.The Natural Regional Park of Gola della Rossa and Frasassi is the “green heart “ of Marche Region; a karstic land of more than 10.000 hectares that includes the subterranean complex of Frasassi caves, where numerous species of bats live.

INFO skuanature.com - info@skuanature.com

Roma

M. Biasioli

Bologna

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DOÑA CATALINA

M. Mendi

M. Mendi

M. Mendi

M. Mendi

THE BOUNDLESS FLOWERING STEPPES

110 - Extremadura - Spain

In the Extremadura region, closed to La Parrilla exclusive reserve, our team is already working to open to photographers and birders another beautiful private reserve: Doña Catalina. One of the biggest steppe-like areas of this part of Spain, a huge estate of 3500 hectares of open areas, home to several target species typical of this kind of habitat, and a famous site where lots of Black Storks stop over in late summer.

Here award-winners cattle breeds, such as the sole population of purebred Merino sheep in Spain and a traditional race of horses, are bred and graze in this boundless land where the big mansion of the landowner’s family stands out.

Among the specie found here, there are Griffon, Cinereous and Egytpian Vulture, Imperial, Booted and Short-toed Eagle, Black and Red Kite and Montagu’s Harrier, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Red legged Partridge and Great Spotted Cuckoo.

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

M. Mendi

MAIN FOCUS ON Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Black-bellied Sandgrouse Great Bustard Little Bustard Stone Curlew Iberian Grey Shrike

Different hides will be located in the reserve for Great Bustard and Little Bustard; the drinking hides will be very productive, as a lot of species will enjoy a drinking point, in contrast with the dryness and the heat of the steppes.

Being quite close to the other SKUA’s reserves in Spain (consisting of different kinds of habitats and species), it allows the creation of a combinated tour that offers the best opportunities to come back home with a complete portfolio of the western Spain’s mediterranean fauna.

INFO skuanature.com - info@skuanature.com Doña Catalina opens its gate to a limitated number of photographers to give them the chance to take excellent pictures using several different kinds of hides located in a huge property; a completely different experience from renting just a single hide or taking pictures from cars.

Porto Madrid

Lisboa

Sevilla

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CENTRAL SPAIN J. L. Rodriguez

“EL BARRACO” AND “EL OSO”

The system of photographic hides of El Barraco and El Oso Reserves is l ocated in central Spain, in the eastern part of Sierra de Gredos mountains.

Their proximity to Madrid (1h driving) allows an easy access and makes them a point of reference of every photographer that have the big raptors as main target. Among evocative mountains, woods and rivers, El Barraco Reserve has 15 fixed and 4 mobile hides that have been built with the highest qualitative standards; several professional prestigious photographers collaborated in the placing of the hides to guarantee optimum lighting and special backgrounds in the different seasons of the year.

Hides for big raptors offer the opportunity to photograph during all the year very emblematic species as Golden Eagle, Spanish Imperial Eagle and Black Vulture. Seasonal hides offer Goshawk y Sparrowhawk in autumn-winter and Booted Eagle during summer.

In collaboration with:

J. L. Rodriguez

J. L. Rodriguez

INFO skuanature.com - info@skuanature.com

112 - Castilla y Leon - Spain

J. L. Rodriguez

J. L. Rodriguez J. L. Rodriguez J. L. Rodriguez

MAIN FOCUS ON Spanish Imperial Eagle Golden Eagle Booted Eagle Crane Steppe’s birds

J. L. Rodriguez

The El Oso lagoon, famous wintering site for migratory cranes and ducks, it’s in the centre of El Oso Reserve and hides have been placed all around it. Here you can find 3 fixed hides for cranes, ducks and steppe birds (Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Stone Curlew, Lapwing, waders...) and 2 fixed hides for steppe raptors as for example Spanish Imperial Eagle, Red Kite and Marsh Harrier.

Madrid

6 new hides will be built and placed in the Reserve in the next future to complete the photographic offer of this paradise on the steppe situated in the Avila province, at just one hour from Madrid.

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WILD LATVIA Latvia is a rather small country very rich for wildlife, with lots of forests, wetlands, an interesting coastline and virtually no mountains. Birdlife is great, especially during migrations when large numbers of birds pass through on their way to the northern breeding grounds: ducks, geese, cranes, waders and various passerines are common especially during springtime. But also during the winter good concentrations of some species can be seen, and some species can be even easier to contact: Middle spotted and White backed Woodpecker, Pigmy and Ural Owl, Bohemian Waxwing are only a few examples.

In the eastern part of the country, not too far from the russian border, there’s an area particularly productive for birds and mammals, called Lubans: vast expanses of boreal forest, mixed with open meadows, surround a large area of wetlands, lakes and fishponds, only partially used.

M. Biasioli

THE NORTHERN TAIGA

M. Piacentino

M. Piacentino

M. Piacentino

In collaboration with:

114 - Latgale - Latvia

M. Mendi M. Piacentino

M. Piacentino

M. Piacentino

MAIN FOCUS ON Black Grouse Lesser Spotted Eagle Pigmy - Ural - Boreal Owl Osprey Woodpeckers

M. Ravasini

M. Mendi

This varied habitat support huge numbers of ducks, grebes, raptors, woodpeckers and various passerines, as well Black grouses and Pigmy Boreal and Ural Owls. Ospreys and White tailed Eagles are particularly common, and it is not rare to see up to 9 Ospreys at the same time in summer and spring! Blyth’s reed Warbler, Booted Warbler, Citrine Wagtail are among the most interesting passerines present here.

Common Goldeneye, Whooper Swan, Lesser Spotted Eagle and Marsh Sandpiper are other interesting species breeding here, not forgetting Three toed and Grey headed Woodpecker and Bittern.

SKUA Nature is starting to develop a very interesting project here, with the goal to establish a new reserve in order to offer some other great photo opportunities: this will be made in collaboration with the local company Dabas Tures, which in the course of the years has developed an unmatched experience and knowledge of the area. Agreements will be made with local owners of fishponds, and new structures and facilities will be created, both for accommodation and of course for photography purposes.

Latvia will soon be another important part of the Network, offering a new environment and new habitats where to explore a wonderful nature.

INFO skuanature.com - info@skuanature.com

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116 - Latgale - Latvia

M. Piacentino

L. Zuntini

M. Ravasini

M. Mendi

It’s not rare to see up to 9 Ospreys at the same time in summer T. D’Arcangelo

M. Mendi

M. Mendi

M. Mendi

M. Mendi

M. Biasioli

M. Piacentino M. Biasioli

Mammals like Beaver and Moose are common and can normally be observed, but also Wolf and Lynx are widespread here, though seeing them requires a bit of luck!

All the Lubans area has a relatively low human density, and it is very pleasant to spend some time here; both paved and gravel roads cross the area, passing through dense coniferous forests and more open parts, and also reaching close to the large fishponds where a lot of birds are to be seen.

M. Biasioli

Riga

Wild Latvia - 117

VBEETWEN ALLEFRESH CAV ANATA AND SALTY WATER The reserve is located in the Gorizia province (Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy).

In the past it was a fishing valley, like lots of areas in this part of the italian Peninsula.The presence of several kinds of habitats in this reserve among the land and the Adriatico Sea (such as lagoons, beaches, woodlands, meadows, fishing valleys, ponds) make the area an ideal place for birds to nest, stop or winter; around 260 species have been recorded so far in this little reserve.

Being declared as Wetland of international importance by Ramsar Convention and Site of Community Importance and Special Protection Area by Natura2000, this land it’s very famous among birders and photographers.

A thick system of canals and water courses that are connected to the open sea, and woods and clearings that run along, offer refuges for numerous species of birds, as for example Purple Heron, Pigmy Cormorant, Bittern and big flocks of Flamingos, shorebirds, ducks and geese.

Valle Cavanata is possible to reach by walk from the nearby Grado town, that has a beautiful old town centre, venetian style, with fishermen houses and little alleys.

Milano

Venezia

Bologna

INFO skuanature.com - info@skuanature.com

T. D’Arcangelo

M: Biasioli

M. Mendi

In collaboration with:

118 - Cavanata Valley - Friuli Venezia Giulia - Italy

MARISMADEALDAY THE GREEN HEART OF CIVILIZATION

The Alday marshland it’s a litoral wetland area near Santander (Cantabria, Spain). It represents the remains of a big ancient marshland. Even if the reserve is located in a urbanized area, thanks to the marshland’s recovery project run by the Naturaleza y Hombre Foundation in these past ten years, it is nowadays one of the last biodiversity oasis in the surroundings of the Santander Bay. The reserve is divided in two main areas: a salty water zone and a fresh water zone.The main botanical species are rushes (Juncus), reeds and bulrushes. On the sides of the paths there also are typical species of wetlands or riverbank forest. Local breeds of horses and donkeys help containing the invasive botanical species.

A big number of bird species live together in its 75 hectares of lagoons and meadows, such us Marsh Harrier, Grey and Purple Heron, Mallard, Pintails, Black-winged Stilt, Garganey and lots more; this reserve is indeed the habitat of many wetland birds and an hot spot and refuge for lots of other bird species during migration, and this is why it’s known as an important ornitological and biodiversity area.The best period is during winter for the big quantity of migratory species and during summer for nesting and resident species (herons, cormorants, sandpipers, plovers, ducks, etc.).

Santander

Bilbao

Valladolid

Madrid

M. Biasioli

M. Ravasini

INFO skuanature.com - info@skuanature.com

M. Ravasini

In collaboration with:

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NEW FRONTIERES Besides the reserves, our job is also supporting tour operators, companies, local istitutions and public authorities of other countries in the development of a complete nature tourism offer. Our team deals with the creation of nature tourism itineraries that meet the requirements of the international market, making all the necessary ground reconnaissance of the sites, pointing out the most interesting species, places and paths to propose, the best solutions in terms of accommodation facilities and logistics depending on the different target clientele to reach and in general providing a professional support on the development of the whole project (from the training of local guides to the creation of promotional material and websites, etc.). At a bigger scale, we support governing bodies in the development of a nature tourism offer that covers the entire country, involving local companies, accommodation facilities and others operators in a network, to create a local economy based on this increasing market.

In the World there are countries and areas still unknown or lesser known to nature lovers, areas with uncontaminated and incredible ecosystems and species to be discovered through this kind of responsible tourism, that has the potentiality to provide a very important economical resource, both for local economy and nature conservation.

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

ARMENIA

Birdwatching & Photography Armenia Magica

SKUA Nature promotes and develops nature tourism in Armenia in collaboration with Armenia Magica. Our goal is to create nature itineraries for birdwatching and photographic tours, and we also try to develop botanical and butterfly tours.

ARMENIA

Armenia is definitely a very fascinating country to visit, perfectly safe from every point of view (the only potentially troublesome area being Nagorno-Karabagh, which we will not visit), with an overall good road system and western style accommodation available in every interesting area, and with

N. Scatassi N. Scatassi

Armenia is a wonderful, little known jewel, a rather small country, full of interesting birds and beautiful landscapes, with an extremely rich historical heritage. Mainly a mountainous country, its highest peak, mount Aragats, reaches over 4000 metres, while the mighty Ararat volcano (now in Turkey, but formerly inside the boundaries of Armenia) can be seen very close from the Erevan plains. Open rocky areas with scattered bushes and rolling hills only sparsely cultivated are among the most widespread habitats, but in Armenia there are also large expanse of forests and humid areas, and thanks to these amazing variety the set of bird species present in the country is truly impressive! And of course its geographical position means that especially during migrations a large number of both western and eastern species pass through regularly, or can turn up anytime, making Armenia a real birding hot spot! Large mammals are another feature of this country, with Brown bear, Lynx and Wolf present almost everywhere within the country boundaries,and with a few Persian leopards still roaming in some areas! During springtime Armenia is also becoming more and more appreciated for its abundance of fantastic blooming flowers, with an astonishing variety which includes wild tulips, orchids and irises, truly remarkable. Again thanks to its geographical position, Armenia is also blessed with very interesting reptile and amphibian species, as well as with an abundance of attractive butterflies and dragonflies.

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Beetwen Asia and Europe

really fantastic food, with a lot of fresh, locally grown vegetables and some great, very tasty armenian dishes.

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Armenia is rather easy country to explore, not too big and with good roads: in a relatively short time you can pass from high mountain habitats to semi-desert and cultivated countryside, thus allowing to see many different bird species, and often at very close range! Not far from the capital city, Erevan, is the mount Aragat, (more than 4000 metres), with a good tarmac road which ascends to over 3000 metres: along this road, from the Erevan plains to the high alpine habitat, the set of birds to be seen is truly impressive: we should be able to find Finsch’s Wheatear and Rufous-tailed Bush Robin, Bimaculated Lark and the gorgeous White-throated Robin, and then higher up Radde’s Accentor (arguably the best place in the world for this species!), Alpine Accentor, Bluethroat,Twite and Horned Lark, not to mention raptors, from Long-legged Buzzard to the mighty Lammergeier.

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The Armash fish ponds, a private area that can be visited thanks to special permits, is among the best birdwatching areas in the whole western palearctic! A huge wetland of 1000 hectares teeming with birds: probably White-tailed Lapwing and Blue-cheecked Bee-eater would be enough to justify a visit here, but these star birds are only the jewels on Armash’s crown, for many other fantastic species can be seen here, such as White-headed Duck and Ferruginous Duck, Pigmy Cormorant, all the european herons, Glossy Ibis, Collared (and possibly also Black-winged) Pratincole, Menetries’ Warbler, Lesser Short-toed Lark and Paddyfield Warbler, while the number of Bearded Reedlings around is simply astonishing!

And of course during migration almost anything can turn up!

The arid hills and gorges around the small town of Vedi are a hotspot for very localized species such as Grey-necked Bunting,Trumpeter and Mongolian Finch (and possibly even Desert Finch!) Upcher’s Warbler and Persian Nuthatch.The scenery here is very nice, with rocky slopes and small patches of bushes, and also small cultivated fields, where Brown Bears come looking for water melons to dig out of the ground!

But Armenia offers not only arid areas and wetlands: the Dilijan area is covered in beautiful forests of ash, beech and maple, where Green Warbler, Red-breasted and Caucasian Flycatchers are normally fairly easy fo find, while Middle Spotted Woodpecker and Levant Sparrowhawk might require a little more effort. All the four european vultures are present in Armenia, with

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An hotspot for very localized species

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Few Persian leopards still roaming in some areas!

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Lammergeier being possibly the commonest: they can be seen virtually everywhere, so the skies are always well worth checking, also looking for Golden, Lesser Spotted and Short-toed Eagles.

The immense Lake Sevan is again a very good place for migrants, besides holding the world’s largest concentration of Armenian Gulls; here during spring migration a great set of interesting species can be seen, from White-winged Terns to Terek’s and Broad-billed Sandpiper, alongside with many other waders, ducks and passerines.

During the days in Armenia, we will explore many different areas, mainly mountainous but not only, including gentle cultivated hills, countryside, rocky outcrops and beautiful canyons, and we shall visit a few beautiful christian monasteries. Birds are everywhere in Armenia, and we ill astonished by the numbers of common species like Swifts, Swallows and Martins, and the same is true for species like Lesser-grey and Red-backed Shrike, Ortolan, Corn and Black-headed Bunting.

Accommodation is very good, all the rooms have en suite facilities and the food is invariably very fresh and tasty, with a lot of local vegetables, cheese and meat. Road conditions are already fairly good on average, and major road works are being done in some places in order to further improve their conditions.

Armenia is gaining more and more attention from european birdwatchers, and rightly so, but so far not many birders have actually visited this fascinating country: so now is the time for a great opportunity to discover its charming beauty and some of its great landscapes and bird species, while there is still a bit of a pioneering feeling in the experience!

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INFO & TOURS skuanature.com - info@skuanature.com

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GEORGIA

Birdwatching & Photography SKUA Nature promotes and develops nature tourism in Georgia in collaboration with Eco tours Georgia. Our goal is to create nature itineraries for birdwatching and photographic tours, and we also try to develop botanical and butterfly tours.

GEORGIA

The mountain areas in and around Kazbegi are rightly famous for being the best place where to see fantastic species such as Caucasian Snowcock, Caucasian Black Grouse, Great Rosefinch and Guldenstadt’s Redstart; the scenery here is gorgeous, with steep mountainsides and a very interesting river bed with mixed shrubs. We shall be looking for Twite, Shore Lark and White-winged Snow Finch, as well as Golden Eagle and Lammergeier. Early

M. Biasioli M. Biasioli

Georgia is situated at an intersection between different biogeographical regions, and this is reflected in the richness of its nature and wildlife: there is a high number of endemic or localized species, and a wonderful mix of northern, eastern and mediterranean elements. Asia and Europe come in contact here, and the varied and rugged environment guarantees a wide selection of habitats in which to look for birds. Large parts of Georgia are still very wild and with low human density, and not only in the mountain areas: the open, arid areas present in the south east for instance have little human population, and host a great set of very interesting bird species, as well as a lot of localized reptile and amphibian species. Also the cultivated areas offer good opportunity for birdwatching, while the vast expanses of both broadleaved and coniferous forests offer refuge for large mammals such as Brown bear, Wolf and Lynx.The greater Caucasus mountain range lies in the north of the country, and its highest peak here reaches over 5000 metres!

Batumi, on the Black Sea coast, is now famous as one of the best hot spot on earth for observing raptor migration, especially in the autumn passage, with incredible numbers and a large variety of species. Georgia is a fantastic country for nature lovers, and a trip here is sure to satisfy even the most demanding birdwatcher.

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

The pearl of the Caucasus

The area around Chachuna, in the south east, has a fantastic landscape with savannah-like open areas, mixed with rolling hills, rocky outcrops and riverine forests: an exciting place in which to look for great birds and not only.

Carnivores are well represented here with Jackal, Wolf, Brown Bears and even Jungle Cat! Any sighting of mammal will be a matter of luck, but the abundance of birdlife will keep us busy: Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin, Chukar, Black Francolin, Black-headed Bunting, Finch’s Wheatear, Woodchat Shrike, White-throated Robin, European Rollers and Bee-eaters, Menetries’s Warbler are among the birds we will look for. Chachuna is also noted for one of the largest communities of breeding birds in the Caucasus. Raptor breeders include Long– legged Buzzard, Lesser and Common Kestrels, Black Kite, Egyptian, Cinereous and Eurasian Griffon Vultures, Levant and Eurasian Sparrowhawks, Northern Goshawk, European Honey Buzzard, Common Buzzard, Imperial, Lesser Spotted, and Short– toed Eagles, Eurasian Hobby, and Saker Falcon. Quite an impressive list: though not all of them can be guaranteed, there are good chances for many of them.

The area around the Davit Gareji monastery is one of the most spectacular sites in Georgia, where historical and wildlife attractions are located side-by-side and can be watched at the same time.

Mediterranean-type arid badland landscape with multi-colored clay hills covered with shrub and steppe- like vegetation, the site of one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world.

In Davit Gareji can be seen; breeding colonies of Eurasian Griffon and Egyptian Vultures, Blue-rock Thrush; large aggregations of European Bee-eaters, Rose-coloured Starling and Rock Dove. Other interesting birds are Calandra Lark, Isabelline Wheatear, Finsch’s and Pied Wheatear, Rock Nuthatch, Lesser-grey Shrike, Spanish and Rock Sparrow.

The spectacular area in the Javakheti plateau, close to the armenian border, hosts high altitude lakes and wetlands, great breeding habitat for both White and Dalmatian Pelicans, various duck species, Armenian Gull, Common Crane and Citrine Wagtail.

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may is the best time of year in order to see the target species mentioned above together with a number of migrants such as Barred, Eastern Orphean and Eastern Olivaceous Warblers, as well as breeding Corncrakes, Mountain Chiffchaff and Red fronted serins.

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In autumn more than one million raptors migrate through Georgia

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G. Rajebashvili

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M. Biasioli

INFO & TOURS skuanature.com - info@skuanature.com

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CALENDAR

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Accommodation in Georgia is in most areas very comfortable and western style, except in a few remote areas where more basic conditions prevail, adding a bit of adventurous feeling to the experience! Food is invariably very good, fresh and tasty, with a lot of local specialities not to be missed.

Infrastructure and roads are mainly good, with some roads where low speed has to be maintained, thus allowing good birding opportunities!

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M. Biasioli

IRAN

Birdwatching & Photography SKUA Nature promotes and develops nature tourism in Iran in collaboration with Iran Doostan Tour. Our goal is to create nature itineraries for birdwatching and photographic tours, and we also try to develop botanical and butterfly tours.

IRAN

M. Biasioli M. Biasioli

Iran is a huge country, around five times the UK, situated at the edge of the western palearctic region, and inside its boundaries there is a very large diversity of habitats, from high mountains (more than 5000 metres) to sea coasts (actually two different seas, the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf), from immense wetlands to forests and semi-deserts, this one being the most widespread habitat. During a single tour it’s impossible to pay a visit to all of these different habitats, so we decided to concentrate on places which are able to offer the best set of Iran’s birdlife, which is of course highly varied and particularly appealing for the western european birdwatcher.

Some of the birds present in Iran are among the most wanted on the wish list for the region for almost every birder: See-see partridge, Black Francolin, Indian Pond Heron, Steppe Eagle, Shikra, Great Stone Curlew, Crab Plover, Egyptian Nightjar, Indian Roller, Grey Hypocolius, Hume’s Wheatear...to name but a few. During a tour in springtime, these and many more species (up to a total of almost 200) can be seen, visiting mainly different semidesert areas, agricultural land, huge wetlands, large mangrove forests and mud flats on the sea coast. Being such a huge country, visiting Iran means that you can experience also different conditions and temperatures: you can find snow in Tehran and enjoy 30+ celsius degrees in the lowlands after a short domestic flight, so be prepared for some variation weatherwise.

Iran hosts the last wild population of Asiatic cheetahs, mainly in and around Turan National Park: there are about a few dozens left of this beautiful animal, and though it’s not easy at all to see, there are still chances to spot them in the open plains of the park, where Persian Wild Ass is much easier to see, and also the endemic Pleske’s Ground Jay is present.

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The ultimate birdwatching destination

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We shall visit the very interesting Qeshm island in the Hormuz Strait, in the waters of the Persian Gulf: on the northern shore of this desert island, lies a very large mangrove forest, one of the biggest in the region. We will explore by boat the thrilling complex of mangroves and mudflats, which holds thousands of birds, usually fairly easy to approach at close range, thus allowing very good photo opportunities: Crab Plover and Great Stone Curlew are probably the star birds here, but the quality and quantity of birds here is really exciting, and thanks to its position, rare species can also turn up anytime. Indian Pond Heron is another species to look for, as well as Clamorous (Indian) Reed Warbler singing from the mangroves, while Greater Flamingo, Dalmatian Pelican, Slender-billed Gull, Western Reef Heron, Lesser crested Tern and of course loads of waders (including Broad-billed Sandpiper and both Sand Plovers) are much easier and very conspicuous.

On the island itself, where great desert environment is present, a different set of birds takes the scene: See-see Partridge (if we’re lucky right at our feet at a drinking place!), Hume’s Wheatear, Little Green Bee-eater, Indian Roller, Purple Sunbird and Brown-necked Raven shouldn’t be hard to find, among other interesting species. Back on the mainland, exploring the coastal areas around the town of Bandar Abbas, could allow us to find other interesting species, with chances for Spotted Little Owl, Indian Sand Lark and Indian Silverbill.

Further west, Mesopotamia is waiting for us, in the Khuzestan province, which is, birdwise, arguably the most interesting one in Iran: the immense Shadegan wetland is here, to the south towards the sea, while a bit more to the north lies a very rich area where a mix of agricultural and more natural land provides great habitats for a thrilling set of species. Shadegan is truly impressive: it’s a wetland which stretches literally as far as the eye can see, full of birds and devoid of roads, and therefore not easy to explore by the way.

But a few places are readily accessible by car and on foot, allowing stunning views of endless expanses of reedbeds and open shallow waters, while at its edges a steppe like habitat is predominant. Species like Marbled Teal, Ferruginous duck, White-tailed Lapwing, Blue Cheecked Bee-eater, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Graceful Prinia and Mesopotamian Crow are present, to name but a few: during early spring a major raptor flyway passes through here, and in a few hours you can see hundreds of large raptors flying over at low height, including Imperial, Steppe and both Greater and Lesser Spotted Eagles! Of course, like every wetland, Shadegan acts as magnet for migrants, so almost enything can turn up here, so be prepared also for some serious rarity!

M. Biasioli

Some of the birds present in Iran are among the most wanted on the wish list for the region for almost every birder!

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M. Biasioli

Another hor spot is in the heart of the Khuzestan province, where some fascinating and most wanted species are present: Grey Hypocolius arrive here in april (though a few birds could be present also earlier in the season), while the two Babblers, Afghan Babbler and Iraq Babbler, are resident, and it will be interesting and challenging to find both of them, being quite similar but frequenting slightly different habitats. Black winged Kites have started to breed in the area, and it shouldn’t be hard to find them, just like the three species of kingfisher, often in the very same stretch of river: Common, Pied and White-throated Kingfisher. Other great birds here are Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Menetries’s Warbler, Red-wattled Lapwing and Egyptian Nightjar.

Mighan lake is a very large salt lake at high altitude near the town of Arak: situated in a steppe-like area, with mountains on the background, it hosts tens of thousands of birds, varying of course according to the season. During the springtime there can be hundreds of Common Cranes and Greylag Geese together with many thousands of both Common and Ruddy Shelducks, as well as various species of ducks and waders (with possible eastern rarities) and large numbers of Greater Flamingos.

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Iran is a perfectly safe country to visit, in spite of the perception we might have in western Europe: people are extremely friendly and always willing to help out and have a chat.

In general, the life of an average iranian is much less influenced by religion than what we might think, and this is epsecially true for

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younger people, who are curious and willing to open up to a western and secularized way of life.The presence of police or other military personnel is very unobtrusive and as a tourist you have always the feeling of being in a very relaxed and peaceful country. Infrastructure and logistics are almost invariably very good: paved roads are almost everywhere, and hundreds of kilometres can be covered by car in few hours. Domestic flight network is very well developed and commonly used everyday by thousands of iranians: service is good and reliable, the only downside being the somewhat regular (short) delays.

Accommodation quality is very good and all rooms have western-style en-suite facilities; food is also good, with the typical meal being kebab with rice and vegetables.

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INFO & TOURS skuanature.com - info@skuanature.com

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CALENDAR

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GET THE BEST OUT OF OUR NETWORK Why SKUA? SKUA Nature is the ground support of several worldwide tour operators and professional photographers.

Our team is at the professionals’s disposal to help them organizing at the best possible way all logistics and technical aspects.

We offer a wide number of scheduled tours with set dates and itineraries not only in Italy, but also in other exclusive destinations we manage, such as Ultima Frontiera in Romania.

We take care of every ground arrangement and our tour leaders are expert and passionate naturalists: all exceptional birders, most of them excellent all-round naturalists, some of them specialists in some particular topic. In our team there are also professional nature photographers that can run workshops or photographic expeditions.

Our guides speak fluent english, spanish, italian and french.

Their profound knowledge of the destinations we offer assures that your clients can make the most of the experience and that their holiday goes smoothly.

In the following two pages you can find some our suggestions to get the best out of our network

M. Biasioli

SEPTEMBER 2015 L. Boscain

ULTIMA FRONTIERA info: ultimafrontiera@skuanature.com Golden Jackals, White Pelican, Dalmatian Pelican, herons, Glossy Ibis, White-tailed Eagle, waders, Ruff, Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Roller, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Warblers, Bearded Reedling, migring birds

OCTOBER 2015 A. Battisti

WILD WEST-IBERIA info: campanarios@skuanature.com Griffon Vulture, Black Vulture, Red Kite, Azure-winged Magpie.

J.L. Rodriguez

DECEMBER 2016 CRANES & EAGLES IN CENTRAL SPAIN info: wildphoto@skuanature.com Cranes, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Golden Eagle, Marsh Harrier, Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Griffon Vulture, Black Vulture, Red Kite, Azure-winged Magpie.

MARCH 2016 M. Mendi

SPRING IN EXTREMADURA info: laparrilla@skuanature.com Great Bustard display, Little Bustard display, Calandra Lark, Short-toed Lark, Thekla Lark, Griffon Vulture, Black Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Red Kite, Southern Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie, Blue Rock Thrush

M. Biasioli

SPRING IN FINNMARK info: wildphoto@skuanature.com Eider, King Eider, Steller’s Eider, Long-tailed Duck, White-tailed Eagle, Gyrfalcon, Purple Sandpiper, Glaucous Gull, Iceland Gull, Shag, Puffin, Black Guillemot, Guillemot, Brunnich’s Guillemot, Razorbill, Siberian Jay, Arctic Redpoll, Pine Grosbeak, Siberian Tit, Snow Bunting,

M. Biasioli

IRAN DESERT & PERSIAN GULF info: info@skuanature.com Indian Pond Heron, Shikra Sparrowhawk, See-see Partridge, Black Francolin, Crab Plover, Great Stone Plover, Red-wattled Plover, White-breasted Kingfischer, Pied Kingfischer, Indian Roller, White-cheeked Bulbul, Hume’s Wheatear, Graceful Prinia, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Iraq Babbler, Purple Sunbird, Pleske’s Ground Jay and more...

APRIL 2016 M. Biasioli

ULTIMATE VULTURES info: campanarios@skuanature.com Griffon Vulture, Black Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Red Kite, Blak Kite, White Stork, Black Stork, Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Azure-winged Magpie, Blue Rock Thrush, Woodchat Shrike, Spanish Sparrow, Rock Sparrow, Corn Bunting and more ...

D. Giuliani

BW AT ULTIMA FRONTIERA info: ultimafrontiera@skuanature.com Golden Jackal, Otter, Wild Cat, Red-necked Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Pygmy Cormorant, Pallas’s Gull, White Pelican, Dalmatian Pelican, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Ferruginous Duck, Purple Heron, Squacco Heron, White-tailed Eagle, Marsh Harrier, waders, Little Owl, Hoopoe, Black Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Moustached Warbler, Bearded Reedling, and more ...

M. Piacentino

M. Piacentino

SPRING IN LATVIA info: wildphoto@skuanature.com

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White-fronted Goose, White-tailed Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Black Grouse, Hazel Grouse, Crane, Ural Owl, Tengmalm’s Owl, Pygmy Owl, Middle spotted Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker, Three-toed Woodpecker, and more ...

ADRIATIC COAST PHOTO EXPEDITION info: wildphoto@skuanature.com Great Crested Grebe, Pygmy Cormorant, Bittern, Little Bittern,Night Heron, Sqacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Purple Heron, Spoonbill, Flamingo, Shelduck, Garganey, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Slender-billed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Common Tern, Whiskered Tern, and more ...

MAY 2016 Griffon Vulture, Black Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Red Kite, Bonelli’s Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Booted Eagle, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Eagle Owl, Collared Pratincole, Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Stone Curlew, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Black Stork, Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Azure-winged Magpie,Woodchat Shrike, Spanish Sparrow, Rock Sparrow, Corn Bunting, and more...

M. Mendi

THE BEST OF EXTREMADURA info: laparrilla@skuanature.com

Lammergeier, Shikra, Barbary Falcon, Caspian Snowcock, Chukar, See-see Partridge, Black Francolin, Cream-coloured Courses, White-tailed Plover, Crowned Sandgrouse, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Hoopoe Lark, Shore Lark, Red-tailed Wheatear, Green Warbler, Twite, Desert Finch, Hume’s Wheatear, Pleske’s Ground Jay, Grey-necked Bunting, Red-headed Bunting and more...

M. Biasioli

IRAN DESERT & CASPIAN COAST info: info@skuanature.com

White-headed Duck, Rock Partridge, White-tailed Lapwing, Armenian Gull, Bimaculated Lark, Horned Lark, Citrine Wagtail, Radde’s Accentor, White-throated Robin, Finsch’s Wheatear, Menetries’s Warbler, Upcher’s Warbler, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Eastern Rock Nuthatch, Twite, Red-fronted Serin, Mongolian Finch, Grey-necked Bunting, and more ...

G. Rajebashvili

GEORGIA SPRING TOUR info: info@skuanature.com

M. Biasioli

ARMENIA BIRDING & PHOTO TOUR info: info@skuanature.com

White Pelican, Dalmatian Pelican, Lammergeier, Imperial Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Saker Falcon, Caucasian Snowcock, Caucasian Grouse, Black Francolin, White-backed Woodpecker, Guldenstadt’s Redstart, Caucasian Chiffchaff, Green Warbler, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Rose-coloured Starling, Rock Nuthatch, Red-fronted Serin, Great Rosefinch, and more ...

WILD LATVIA EXPEDITION info: wildphoto@skuanature.com Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, White-tailed Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Corncrake, Great Snipe, Ural Owl, Tengmalm’s Owl, Pygmy Owl, Middle spotted Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker, Three-toed Woodpecker, Bluethroat, Barred Warbler, River Warbler, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Booted Warbler,Common Rosefinch, and more ...

M. Piacentino

JUNE 2016

Golden Jackal, Otter, Wild Cat, Red-necked Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Pygmy Cormorant, White Pelican, Dalmatian Pelican, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Ferruginous Duck, Purple Heron, Squacco Heron, White-tailed Eagle, Marsh Harrier, Collared Pranticole, waders, Little Owl, Roller, Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Olivaceus Warbler, Bearded Reedling, and more ...

M. Valentini

ULTIMA FRONTIERA PHOTO TOUR info: ultimafrontiera@skuanature.com

Pygmy Cormorant, herons, Ferruginous Duck, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Cuckoo, Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Roller, Black Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Collared Flycatcher, Hawfinch, and more ...

C. Galliani

HORTOBAGY SPRING PHOTO EXPEDITION info: wildphoto@skuanature.com

Rare and endemic species of orchids, amphibians and reptiles, Lesser Kestrel, Red Kite, Griffon Vulture, Aegyptian Vulture, Stonechat, Garden Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Spectable Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Woodchat Shrike, Redbacked Shrike, Cirl Bunting, Corn Bunting, and more...

A. Conte

WILD LUCANIA PHOTO EXPEDITION info: wildphoto@skuanature.com

JULY 2016

EAGLES & STEPPE BIRDS info: wildphoto@skuanature.com Griffon Vulture, Black Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Red Kite, Lesser Kestrel, Booted Eagle, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Golden Eagle, Stone Curlew, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Calandra Lark, Azure-winged Magpie,Woodchat Shrike, Spanish and more...

J. L. Rodriguez

Golden Oriole, Red-rumped Swallow, Black Redstart, Mistle Thrush, Orphean Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Spectabled Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Woodchat shrike, Azure-winged Magpie, Jay, Spotless Starling, Spanish Sparrow, Rock Sparrow, Linnet, Serin, Hawfinch.

M. Ferrari

DRINKING HIDE IN SPAIN info: laparrilla@skuanature.com

AUGUST 2016 Golden Jackal, Otter, Pygmy Cormorant, White Pelican, Dalmatian Pelican, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Ferruginous Duck, Purple Heron, Squacco Heron, White-tailed Eagle, Marsh Harrier, Collared Pranticole, Gull Billed Tern, Caspian Tern, waders, Little Owl, Roller, Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Olivaceus Warbler, Bearded Reedling, and more ...

M. Biasioli

ULTIMA FRONTIERA PHOTO TOUR info: ultimafrontiera@skuanature.com

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TOUR OPERATORS & PROFESSIONALS Perfect locations where to run photographic workshops and nature expeditions SKUA Nature offers ground support to several worldwide tour operators and professional photographers.

Not to speak about the fact that our reserves are present all over Europe...

A network of workshops/expeditions can also be organized, to cover the best target species in different kinds of habitats and in different countries.

M. Andreini

What we offer are exclusive places, most of them are private properties, located in very secluded and little known biodiversity hot spots, where EVERYTHING has been developed especially for nature tourism and to meet the requirements of even the most demanding nature photographers.

In most of the reserves we allow no more than 2 groups of 6 photographers or 1 group of 12 birders every week. A location to share only with other nature lovers or even, on demand, to enjoy in total exclusivity.

M. Biasioli

Our reserves represent a World entirely dedicated to the passion of your clientele … and your own!

Our team is at the professionals’s disposal to help them organizing in the best possible way all the logistics and technical aspects, as for example, to choose the better excursions to add to the standard itinerary depending on the period or preparing the place for the use of new photographic techniques such us night photography, time lapse, etc.

• big private and exclusive nature reserves • a big number of new generation photographic hides for several target species • different kinds of vehicles (4x4 jeeps, boat-hide, electric cars, etc.)

• ad hoc-planned birding and photographic excursions • high quality accommodation inside the reserve (in the ultimate reserves) surrounded by nature • just few people in big nature areas • local guides that support you during the activities, suggesting the best hides and taking you to excursions • dedicated prices for tour operators and professionals who can then offer workshops/tours proposals in line with the market • and much more...

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M. Biasioli

Moreover a marketing office it’s available to speak about further possible collaborations, partnerships, or different kind of ideas.

Being mostly located in biodiversity hot spots and in quite remote areas, our reserves are also wonderful locations for nature and cultural reportages and documentaries. Our team will support you for logistic and organizational matters to let you focus only on the creation of the product.

Thanks to our numerous photographic hides it’s possible to easily record a wide number of animal species in their natural behaviour, interacting with other individuals or even with other species, offering scenes that are difficult to record in other ways.

M. Biasioli

Reportages, documentaries and special proposals

Photographic hides are also perfect to be used by drawing and artistic groups, for workshop or just holidays, as animals are not scared by those facilities and normally spend lot of time in front of the hide.

M. Biasioli

Every reserve though has its own particular feautures and other special activities can be organized, such us tours dedicated to specific groups of animals (amphibians, reptiles, insects – dragonflies, butterflies,.. – , etc.).

In conclusion, our reserves offer unlimited opportunities for the organization of several kinds of nature-related activities. Our marketing office is always glad to receive new ideas and special proposals and helps professionals to realize them.

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

To offer something new and exclusive to your clientele

M. Biasioli

CONTACT US marketing@skuanature.com

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2014-2015

NATURE CONSERVATION SKUA Nature is a private company with unique characteristics.

The team is made of highly motivated naturalists, who strongly believe that the projects carried on by SKUA can give important contributions to nature conservancy, through concrete actions and by raising money for local research studies and actions.

In all the reserves we develop, we activate actions dedicated to nature conservancy and biodiversity studies using funds coming from nature tourism activities and in collaboration with various public or private organizations.

We have proved, in these last few years, that if the work is done fully respecting habitats and species ecology, and adopting dedicated actions to improve feeding, stop over or breeding sites, the results are immediate and positive also for rare or very localised species.

And so our Network’s hides and reserves indeed broadens the range of opportunities and create an ever-growing laboratory on the relation between nature and human activities.

In collaboration with:

S. Stignani

M. Biasioli

RESTORATION OF BREEDING SITES FOR AMPHIBIANS In the Wild Lucania reserve, in collaboration with the Center for Naturalistic Studies Nyctalus Onlus, various small drinking troughs for wildlife have been created, in an area where there were no more water reserves left, due to the general abandonment of the countryside.Various old wells have been recovered and are operating again, so that wildlife can use them safely, as these sites are protected and monitored. In one of these sites two very important southern Italy endemic species are now breeding: Appennine yellow-bellied Toad and Italian Newt.

M. Biasioli

NEW COLONIES FOR BATS Thanks to the contribution of Terna SPA and Schwegler / Natur Protection we have installed tens of bat-boxes in the reserves of Palude di San Genuario and Fontana Gigante, as well as on many high voltage pylons in the middle of rice fields: our goal is to increase the breeding and wintering sites for bats in an area hevaily compromised by intensive agriculture. A research on this topic has started, in order to survey the area and assess the result of this project.

PROTECTION OF THE MONTAGU’S HARRIER NESTS

M. De Silvi

M. Mendi

This project is made in collaboration between SKUA and LIPU Bird-Life Italia: 70% of the incomes from the use of photo-hides will be destined to conservation projects inside the partner reserves, as well in close by areas in case of particular conservation priorities. In 2015 the first photo hides of this project have been launched, inside the Ostia Lido CHM Reserve, near Rome. Thanks to a very high number of photographers, we have been able to get funds to use for protecting various Montagu’s Harrier nests in the countryside to the northwest of Rome. With a solid group of volunteers, the involvment of the land owners, and the purchase of electrified fences against terrestrial predators, we are sure that the future of this small population will be brighter.

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REPTILE SURVEY Thanks to a percentage on the incomes from the use of photo hides in the reserves of Parco del Po, we have contributed to the purchase of the necessary materials in order to start an important survey of the reptiles, and snakes in particular, in the whole park. Reptiles are not very well studied, though they can be a very important ecological key for assessing the health of biodiversity of an area. During the next few years, thanks to this survey, we will have a better knowledge of the distribution of reptiles and of the more threatened species, and therefore it will be possible to activate dedicated conservation actions.

A SAFE NEST FOR BLACK TAILED GODWITS

S. Stignani

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

M. Libra

The only Black tailed Godwit population breeding in Italy is in the rice fields of the Vercelli province. Since 2014 we have started to support conservation interventions for this species: sadly every year several nests are destroyed, due to agricultural works.Thanks to the use of wooden templates and the rental of some land portions, we have started to have the first results, but starting from autumn 2015, in the Cascina Spinola estate, we will begin to restore habitats, including wetlands and permanent meadows, on a 15 hectares area, that we hope will be the new stronghold for this beautiful species.

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M. Biasioli

ADDITIONAL FOOD FOR VULTURES AND KITES

C. Pedriali

In Spain, in the reserves of La Parrilla and Los Campanarios de Azaba, we run important feeding points for scavenger birds, which offer fantastic photo opportunities as well as a precious additional constant food source for protected species such as Egyptian and Cinereous Vultures, and Red Kites. The current management of the carcasses in the large breeding farms has caused a lot of problems in these last years for these species: a general lack of food, the use of antiinflammatories which are lethal for raptors and a growing competition with the more adaptable and widespread Griffon Vulture, have made necessary the launch of dedicated projects in order to ensure an important and safe controlled food supply.

A NEST NEXT TO THE HIDE In all our Network’s reserves, when we build new photo hides we always pay particular attention not to build them close to nests, colonies, or sensitive areas. But our job consists also in restoring and improving the areas around the hides, in order to make them more interesting for birds. The results we have obtained in just a couple of years are incredible: rare species like Bittern, Black winged Stilt, Avocet, Western Marsh Harrier and others, have started to breed (often for the first time inside the reserves) in front of the hides or in their immediate vicinity, proving how by working with care, know-how and technical skills, great results can be obtained, successfully combining fruition with conservation.

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M. Biasioli

I. Zuccolo I. Zuccolo

S. Stignani

In the Parco del Po we have been working for three years now, each spring, for restoring, cleaning or creating new earthen walls for Bee eaters. These actions are made inside quarries where gravel is digged for, thanks to special agreements made with the local mining companies and the Park administration: year by year, we locate the more suitable areas for bee eaters , we stop the works in that particular area for the breeding season and we optimize the area for their needs. The number of breeding pairs is constantly increasing, without causing any trouble to the mining activity: and this proves once again how the relation between man and nature can be sustainable.

C. A. Conti

NEW EARTHEN WALLS FOR BEE EATERS

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OUR RULES

Helping nature conservation means also following some good practices and habits when exploring and living the natural environment. Because of that, in addition to concrete actions to increase and conserve biodiversity, we do also invest time and resources to costantly improve our working system and most of all to help our clients to reach the best ethical standards. Our dispositions are very serious and include some fundamental rules that we do use and apply in every situation where we work.

ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY FACILITIES

C. Romano

Wherever it’s possible we create and build hides and facilities that have a low environmental impact using natural local materials and taking into consideration also aspects as comfort and efficacy. In almost every situation it’s possible to avoid the use of concrete, therefore reaching an almost zero impact on the territory.

PERIODICITY

M. Biasioli

Depending on the areas where we work and on the phenology of the species, we decide the best period when we can work to construct or modify facilities avoiding to disturb animals. Moreover field-works are reduced to a minimum as we do prepar ex-situ the majority of the hides.

Some species are not disturbed by the shooting noise of a camera or by a sudden movement of a wooden window, however we do prefer to use reflecting glasses in almost all the situations, to avoid any bother and guarantee to photographers closer pictures of animals in a more natural behaviour.

M. Andreini

GLASSES

Thanks to the support of Daniel Steenhaut, a series of very nice comics are available to inform people that use hides about the most common wrong habits. A funny but efficient way to inform our clients and make them feel responsible, but also to give advices on what should not be done in order to get the best photographic opportunities.

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P. Dieudonne

RULES AND COMMUNICATION

In collaboration with:

www.daniel-steenhaut.be

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BE A PART OF THE NETWORK

Our Network regularly adds new reserves and nature areas, that we carefully select among the several proposals of collaboration that we receive, on a weekly basis, from landowners or public institutions.

Our idea to develop exclusive reserves entirely dedicated to nature tourism has proved to be a succesful project, as it allows nature areas, private or public, to have a specific connotation and become points of reference for this kind of responsible and respectful tourism.

Networking indeed is the best way for a project to be successful and it leads to several other opportunities in terms of international collaborations.

M. Biasioli

OUR TEAM SARA GENOVESE Marketing & Communication

PAOLO FUMAGALLI TechnicalTeam Manager

NICOLA SCATASSI International Projects Manager

IGOR MAIORANO Italy Coordinator

MARCO AFFINI LUCA BOSCAIN Spain & Romania Coordinator Field Naturalist & Guide

M. Biasioli

The SKUA team is composed of more than 25 people among which there are technicians, hide-keepers, reserve’s coordinators, photographers and biologists. Our team share a strong passion for nature, its conservation and communication.

We have chosen an ambitious and not trouble-free project to develop, in which we strongly believe, and our work in these years has proved that with such a motivated and dynamic team even the most unimaginable aims can be achieved.

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A NEW VISION

FOR LAND OWNERS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS

• • • • • • • •

M. Biasioli

•

SKUA Nature is leader in the development and management of natural areas; We know how to communicate to this quite demanding target of clientele and prepare ad hoc promotional materials; All our projects always follow the highest ethical and environmental standards; We participate to the most important international fairs of this field; We have contacts with a huge number of tour operators and

professionals from different countries; Our team deals entirely with the development and long term

management of the project; Calibrated initial investment; SKUA Nature starts to receive benefits at the same time when the owner/manager of the area receives the first incomes from the project; The fact that we manage a Network allows our company to offer the greatest percentage of the profits to the local partner, be it a land owner or public institution (on average the 60-70%); Our Network is already a success and it helps new projects to

accelerate the achievement of their goals

M. Biasioli

•

L. Boscain

SKUA Nature is leader in Europe in the development and management of natural areas. Our international experience allows us to detect the right strong points to be enhanced, in order to develop projects that have all the necessary features to access the most important nature tourism networks.

Our great experience in the field allows us to have a very good and intimate knowledge of nature and wildlife, which is of course necessary in order, for instance, to know how, where and when to build a new hide for taking photos of a particular species and which are the target species for each country.

Our work is not “only” the hides construction, it’s the creation of the whole system, from the first recce of the area to the creation of a solid long term business plan, from the construction or renewal of specific facilities dedicated to this kind of tourism to the training of the staff, from the promotion and marketing through international fairs and contacts with the main worldwide tour operators of this market to the touristic groups management, from the creation of ad hoc promotional material (website, brochures, etc.) to the administration office, technical team, and lots more...

In every SKUA’s activity, the most important thing is obviously the well being of the wildlife. We all are naturalists, biologists and conservationists, therefore we have always very clear in mind that we must NOT in any way have a negative impact on the nature’s delicate balance. Our attention is always very high in this regard, and dealing with wildlife we all have to be very careful.

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M. Andreini

CONTACT US info@skuanature.com

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SKUA Nature’s consultancy work can basically be described as follows: we come to see your areas, your locations, what you have to offer in terms of wildlife species and photo opportunities, which is the standard of food and accommodation on offer. After having seen and checked all of this, SKUA will be able to make a development plan for the area, which will obviously be very different from place to place, depending on which are the real opportunities for each area. In some cases there will hopefully be the chance of setting up a photographic reserve, while in other cases SKUA will only offer its consultancy work, consisting in the realization of the dedicated website, leaflets, and in the chance of being part of our network, therefore being promoted in various fairs and events and with direct links on our main website and more. Obviously, such a collaboration agreement could be signed only if some necessary requirements are reached: SKUA will be happy to promote a certain destination, provided it can guarantee our standards in term of quality.

Arch. Ornitholidays

Arch. Ornitholidays

CONSULTANCY

M. Biasioli

Creating a photo hide or an area for watching wildlife is not difficult; on-line you can find plenty of examples with a multitude of photos and technical basics to copy. One of the differences that make our work unique is the deep knowledge, not only in terms of the technical skills which allow us to build different kinds of facilities, but also of the ecological dynamics which regulate wildlife’s movements and behaviours. Our intervention is not limited to the construction of a hide, but above all we locate the very best crossing points for wildlife and we restore small or big habitats in order to facilitate the stop over of migrating birds.

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

TECHNICAL SKILLS

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

In desert areas, in wetlands, in dense forests or highly anthropized areas, we always operate with outstanding expertise and dedication, making use of all the necessary means for a correct execution of the works.

Our know-how about materials, technologies, equipments and working tools allows us to make very detailed pre-working plans and subsequently extremely accurate interventions, without wasting material, time or energies.

M. Biasioli

Thanks to our skilled and highly experienced team, we manage to work in every possible condition, always finding the best technical solutions in order to realize works with a minimum environmental impact but at the same time highly efficient.The best logistic solutions for a fast job and with an optimisation of the costs are guaranteed.

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M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

M. Biasioli

RESEARCH Biological stations and research projects...

A network inside the Network The main aim of our project is to help nature conservation through nature tourism. Managing different kinds of big nature areas in several countries allows us to develop a network inside the Network: in lots of our reserves there are biological stations that we open to universities, research groups, professionals, etc. to run: • • • • •

research studies thesis and scientific article pubblication (university, phd, vocational trainings) ringing projects monitoring projects conservation actions

All that in collaboration with our team. We can provide all the logistic support (vehicles as boats or 4x4 jeeps, biological station, laboratories, accommodation, meals, etc.) and our deep knowledge of the place and animal movements.

Our team is also running conservation actions thanks to part of the incomes from nature tourism’s activities in the reserves (as reintroduction of native species, habitat management, habitat conservation, species monitoring, etc.) and volunteers or people that would like to join our projects to learn practical skills in the nature field are always welcome.

CONTACT US info@skuanature.com

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A network to connect researches and conservation actions in biodiversity hot spots around Europe, to join forces and improve the result.

SKUA Nature Group s.n.c.

Via Valle N° 4 - 15020 Castelletto Merli (AL), Italy tel/fax +39-0141/918403 www.skuanature.com info@skuanature.com

EDITOR Massimiliano Biasioli DEPARTMENT EDITORS Massimiliano Biasioli, Sara Genovese, Nicola Scatassi, Igor Maiorano TEXTS Massimiliano Biasioli, Sara Genovese, Nicola Scatassi, Sergio Stignani, Antonella Negrini, Luca Boscain, Antonio Luca Conte, Alessandro Polinori, Marco De Silvi, Igor Maiorano, Ilario Zuccolo, Josè Luis Rodriguez, Jacopo Angelini, Danilo Selvaggi, Dario Zocco, Eduardo Zorrilla, Carlos Sanchez, Fundacion Naturaleza Y Hombre, Nigel Jones.

TRANSLATIONS & TECHNICAL REVIEWERS Sara Genovese, Nicola Scatassi GRAPHIC DESIGN SKUA Nature Group ILLUSTRATIONS Daniel Steenhaut PHOTO CREDITS Fabrizio Filippini, Fondaciòn Naturaleza Y Hombre, Nigel Jones, Massimiliano Biasioli, Sergio Stignani, Daniele Giuliani, M. Mendi, Tiziana D’Arcangelo, Luca Boscain, Ilario Zuccolo, Carlo Galliani, Patrik Dieudonne, Marco Andreini, Martin Steenhaut, Marco Affini, Mario Vigo, Marco Valentini, Marino Premoli, Daniel Petrescu, Basilio Gil, Staffan Widdstrand, Andrea Battisti, Emanuele Natali, Carlo Romano, Alberto Carati, Jon Egert, Maurizio Ferrari, Iosto Doneddu, Roberto Sindaco, Sara Genovese, A. Verdugo, E. Micò, T. Németh, Paco Jaez, L. Quaresma, Guido Bissattini, Carlo Alberto Conti, Maurizio Ravasini, Matteo Gagliardone, Cristiano Pedriali, Renzo Dionigi, Alberto Luca Conte, Ralph Christian Rosenbauer, Massimo Piacentino, Pablo Serrano, Antonio De Stefano, Lorenzo Zuntini, Franco Baccelli, Dayana Nicolae, Marco De Silvi, Amedeo Altomare, Andrea Benedetti, Silvia Cerisola, Jacopo Angelini, Josè Luis Rodriguez, Nicola Scatassi, Giorgi Rajebashvili, M. Libra, Ornitholidays.

www.zenelli.it

skuanature.com fnyh.org innatenetwork.com

General Headquarters (SKUA Nature Group) Cascina Picus - Via Valle 4 - 15020 - Castelletto Merli (AL) Piedmont - North West of Italy - Italy Tel/Fax: +39-0141918403 - info@skuanature.com

Spain Headquarters Wildlife & Photo Center - 10695 - Villareal De San Carlos (Caceres) Monfragüe National Park - Extremadura - Spain wildphoto@skuanature.com Fundación Naturaleza y Hombre Headquarters - 39610 Astillero (Santander) Av. de España 25 - Cantabria - Spain Tel/Fax: +34-942 55 9119 - fundacion@fnyh.org Reserva Biologica Campanarios De Azaba - 37497 - Espeja (Salamanca) Campo De Azaba - Castilla y Leon - Spain Tel/Fax: +34-923481401 - campanarios@skuanature.com

Romania Headquarters Villa Dunarii - Ultima Frontiera - 827018 - Periprava (Tulcea) Danube Delta - Dobrogea - Romania Mobile: +40-769030610

Cover Photo: Golden Jackal at Ultima Frontiera - Martin Steenhaut