(Leggi questo post in italiano)
A few Sundays ago while zapping on TV I watched a documentary about the Regional Park of Sile in Treviso. I was so fascinated by the images of the waterfront and old mills that I decided I absolutely had to visit the park. I took contact with the Oasis of Cervara and the director Emilio Ramponi immediately offered showing ans explaining me their work and environmental projects.
The Oasis , located in S. Christina di Treviso, is one of the main access points to the Regional Natural Park of the River Sile. It has the shape of an island laid between the course of two rivers, the Sile and the stream Piovega.
Upon arrival, just crossed the huge entrance gate, a bucolic landscape greets me: an old, yet perfectly restored mill frames the course of the river, on which an elegant white swan lazily swims. Not bad as a start!
From the central courtryard depart wooden walkways running along a circular path, allowing visitors to enjoy the stunning natural views all around.
I meet the Director Ramponi in front of the aviary of storks, where I spot a magnificent adult male walking free in the lawn. The project A Nest for Stork – Un nido per la cicogna was born in 2009 with the intention of helping this specie to return to nest along the river Sile. Inside the aviary are housed two beautiful pairs of white storks. Baldoni tells us about the first unsuccessful attempt in which one of the pairs bred in captivity has not proved capable of feeding their baby. Hence the decision of the staff, with the next nesting, to keep and nourish by hand four of the new born, leaving only the fifth in the nest: all the little ones, including that one remained with its parents, survived and four were placed in the aviary the second month of life. The Director leads me to see the new born: impossibile not to get touched at the sight of these tiny creatures, lovingly cared by the staff. It seems impossible that these small animals will in a short time become the magnificent adults that can be seen in the aviary. The Director proudly explains how the aviary acts as a magnet for other storks and many wild storks keep coming and staying here for a while , some even for many weeks. The effort of the staff is creating an environment that stimulates more and more storks to stop here and reproduce.
The Oasis is populated by many other birds: herons , special guests here, observable in flight and on the nests, as well as the kingfisher , the nightingale , the mallard , the swan , the green woodpecker and red and many others.
The oasis provides photographic huts that allow to take pictures to birds at a close dinstance without being noticed, a great opportunity for those who loves nature photography!
In the ponds nearby lives a rich fauna including green frogs as well as a small colony of nice tortoises , that can be spot from a small wildlife observatory. Not far from the pond, a beautiful turtle inside fences area attracts the amused gaze of children, fascinated by its slow movements.
Another important project made and developed by the oasis is The forest of the Owls – La Selva dei Gufi , the first Italian center promoting the knowledge of these night birds using educational activities and through the close encounter with the animals that can be seen at the Flight of the Owls , held on weekends in the small arena located inside the oasis.
Another important project made and developed by the oasis is The forest of the Owls – La Selva dei Gufi , the first Italian center promoting the knowledge of these night birds using educational activities and through the close encounter with the animals that can be seen at the Flight of the Owls , held on weekends in the small arena located inside the oasis.
Owls are fascinating creatures belonging to the imaginary of all of us as characters of fairy tales and stories; seeing them at close dinstance is quite a change!
The Oasis gives the possibility to both children and adults to discover a world made of water, animals, flowers and plants, a quite secluded place of tranquillity. The ideal destination for a sprint and summer Sunday, away from the hustle and buzzle of the city, surrounded by a unique natural landscape!