Burano Reserve

Written by Daniela Cetola.

Located in the town of Capalbio, covers 410 hectares and consists of a large brackish lake, about a meter deep, separated from the sea by a coastal dune of about 11 km and surrounded by flooded fields. The Burano Reserve was the first of italian WWF reserve and became a State natural reserve in 1980. It has 14 observation points, consisting of reed huts and a tower and it offers guest accomodation.

A beautiful sunset on the lake of Burano. Picture courtesy: Angelo Properzi. Technicians from ENEA and WWF hold constant checks on the status of the reserve lake and waters, intervening to make better environmental conditions. Studies of various universities have focused on vegetation (particularly on juniper), the sparrows, the wintering ducks, the nesting birds, the dune beetles and the local hedgehogs.

Flora and Fauna Compositions of sea lilies, sea ering, sandstone ammofila adorn the dunes while Phoenician juniper, myrtles, holm oak and corkwood grows in the area behind it. the reed marsh grows abundant along the perimeters of the lake, while on the flooded meadows salicornia and alimione is more common. Birds are the the real dominators of the whole reserve.

During wintertime you can admire: coot, tufted duck, Pochard, Shoveler, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, cormorant, pink flamingo, wild goose, plover and pelicans, raptors harrier, marsh harrier and merlin. Spring is often the passage of migratory birds: black-tailed godwit, combattant, spotted redshank, albastrello, gossip, pantana, white storks and black storks, eagle. Among other species of birds are white, red and guardabuoi egrets, rollers, cavalieri d'Italia, sea partridge, warblers, moorhens.

Informations

The permanent staff of the WWF is responsible for monitoring and guided tours taking place every sunday from 1 September to 30 April, 10 am and 14.30 pm. On the other weekdays tours are offered, by reservation for groups and school groups.

There are two very practical ways to reach the reserve by car: the SS Aurelia until the junction for Scalo Capalbio (km 131), then after the train crossing, follow the signs to the WWF Reserve. Otherwise it can be reached by train on the Rome-Genoa track to Capalbio Scalo.