The WWF Oasis of Alviano
As many as 900 hectares are protected within the Tiber River Park, between the municipalities of Guardea, Alviano, Montecchio and Civitella d'Agliano. The area is a true wealth of biodiversity and one of the largest oases managed by the WWF.
The history of this area begins in 1963 when a dam was built on the Tiber river which led to the creation of the artificial lake of Alviano, aimed at producing electricity. A wide variety of birds thus headed for these shallow and marshy waters, leading the institutions to create a welcoming and safe habitat to protect them in 1990, the WWF Oasis of Alviano.
Birdwatching and nature photography
The Oasis is a destination for birdwatching lovers. Thanks to the variety of environments, from the swamp to the hygrophilous forest with willows, alders and poplars, up to wet meadows and ponds, the area represents one of the most important migratory corridors for avifauna. Today there are 250 species of birds recorded, including sedentary ones such as the coot, the marsh harrier, the kingfisher, the grebe and numerous species of ducks. Among the rare specimens there are cranes, wild geese, ospreys, black-winged stilts and bitterns. Furthermore, several birds choose this place to lay their eggs, such as herons which, with over 200 nests, make it one of the most important heronries in Italy.
