The monitoring, carried out by the GOB with ITS funds, shows the ecological connectivity of the protected natural area with the African continent.
This week, the Es Trenc-Salobrar de Campos maritime-terrestrial Natural Park presented the results of the first monitoring of the salt marsh and coastal birdlife in this protected natural area. The study is part of the ‘Project for the recovery of habitats and management of public use of the Es Trenc-Salobrar de Campos Park’ financed with funds from the Sustainable Tourism Tax (ITS).

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During the monitoring, carried out by the GOB, more than 13,000 birds of 95 different species were sighted. The two most frequently observed birds were the flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) and the shelduck (Tadorna tadorna). Although the flamingo is present throughout the year, September is when observations have reached their peak, with more than 500 specimens. In May, on the other hand, only a dozen were observed.

As for the shelduck, the number of observations increases during the spring, with a maximum of 112 specimens in June 2021. High numbers are recorded in April and May with the incorporation of the young of the same year. Observations decrease during summer and autumn.

Within the framework of the project, a study of the territorial behaviour of the common stilt (Himantopus himantopus) and the avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) has been carried out. Thus, four specimens of each species have been marked to determine their use of the space within the Park and the relationship they have with other areas of the archipelago such as the Natural Park of s’Albufera and the ses Gambes pond.

The data provided by the emitters have identified the migration and hibernation routes. Thus it has been found that two of the tagged common storks, in mid-August 2021, migrated south: one to the Djoudj National Park and north to the Diawling National Park, on the border between Mauritania and Senegal; the other, meanwhile, has spent the winter in Mali. These two specimens returned to the Natural Park of es Trenc during the months of March and April 2022.

It has also been observed that one Avocet spent the winter of 2021-2022 in the Tagus Estuary Nature Reserve near Lisbon, and returned to the Park at the end of February.

At the same time, a scientific ringing station (EEC) has been installed in the park, where 16 ringing days have been carried out until June 2022. During this time, 193 specimens of 23 different species have been captured. By far the two most banded species were the robin (Erithacus rubecula), a hibernating species in the area, followed by the warbler (Melanocephala warbler), a sedentary species in the area.

During the presentation, the park staff thanked the collaboration of Salinas de Levante and the farms that have provided them with access to complete the data.

The project will end with the creation of an atlas of nesting birds in the Natural Park, which will be a useful tool for the management of the protected natural area.