The area surrounding the Ria de Aveiro has a very large animal biodiversity. Especially with the naked eye we can observe and identify some, however others, only even those who are attentive.
In addition to the birds, which fill our eyes, we also have a wide range of other animals and plants.
In order to get to know this spring better, we propose to our students a sponsorship of the species surrounding the Ria de Aveiro area so that each one can discover the biodiversity that we so much want to preserve.
We went to investigate and got a listing that filled us with beauty here we share what we were discovering:
Waterfowl:
black duck, little grebe, white-faced cormorant, little egret, heron, flamingo, fish eagle, mosquito, tailor, collared sandpiper,
interrupted-collared sandpiper, dark hawthorn, common hawthorn, common red leg, common green leg, rock curlew, sea turtle, black-headed gull, winch- common, dark-winged gull, herring gull, common tern, kingfisher.
Large land birds:
white stork, red-tailed stag beetle, white-owl
Passerines:
hoopoe, rock swallow, yellow wagtail, white wagtail, stonechat, black-tailed hawk, black-tailed hawk, black starling
Sponsorship of species by our students
Skylark | Laverca
Entirely brown bird, with a streaked pattern, larger than a sparrow. There are no particular signs in the plumage, except for the small hoop that is not always visible. When it lands in the middle of the vegetation, hiding among the herbs can be very difficult to see. Its song, emitted in flight, can continue uninterrupted for several minutes.
Animal “adopted” by Luana Antunes
Herring Gull | Gaivota
Looking at the sea from the top of a cliff on the Portuguese coast, it is easy to notice the herring gull, which flies calmly along the cliffs, as if appreciating the details of this geological formation. This bird is large, has yellow legs, has a back, its beak is yellow and silver wings with black tips and white "pearls".
Animal “adopted” by Matilde Dias and Emanuel Moreira
The ruddy turnstone ("Arenaria interpres")| Rola do Mar
In the Ria de Aveiro we can see several species of birds, one of them is ruddy turnstone, with short and orange paws, and with a scaly pattern, white chest and belly.
This animal in the estuary of Aveiro can be seen in the salt pans.
Animal “adopted” by Lara Machado
White Stork | Cegonha-branca
The white stork is one of the best known birds of our fauna, being recognizable by almost all its white and black hue and its characteristic red beak.
The white stork shows one of the most easily identifiable silhouettes of our birdlife. Its neck and long legs, the white hue of the body, with the tips of black primary and secondary, and the bright red color of the beak and paws, make this bird emblematic in our territory.
Animal “adopted” by Pedro Jesus
Long leg | Perna Longa
In the Ria de Aveiro it is possible to see the long-leg. The long-legged is a wadder bird that lives in the mud and has long lower limbs that allow it to feed in areas of deeper water.
Nesting starts in April, the nest is built in areas close to the water and can be seen throughout the year, but it is more common in the summer.
It is easily identifiable by its long red legs, white body and black wings, reminiscent of a miniature stork. It usually occurs in salt pans or other freshwater or brackish water. During the nesting season, the long legs are the “kings” of the salt pans: with their elegant silhouette and their noisy vocalizations, they hardly go unnoticed.
Animal “adopted” by Maria Leonor Santiago and Lucas Mendes
Belodinae Needle | Peixe Agulhinha
The Agulhinha is a peaceful fish, but usually fights with fish of the same species, only among males, for conquest of territory. They are fish that reach up to a maximum of 7 cm and like to stay in the upper part of the aquarium. Also known as Malaysian Half-Beque is a family member found in the fresh and brackish waters of rivers and coastal regions in Southeast Asia, in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra. And also in Aveiro.
Animal “adopted” by Íris Sacramento
Giant Egret | Garça Gigante
This giant heron is huge, it is one of the largest, it is about 1.5 meters high and a sturdy beak shaped like a dagger. Your flight is very heavy and laborious. Its real name is Graça de Goliath, but due to its size it is called heron.
The Goliath heron tends to be always in the water, even by the standards of the heron, rarely venturing away from a water source and prefers to fly along water courses instead of moving on land. Important habitats can include lakes, swamps, mangroves, wetlands, reefs with some cold water, sometimes river deltas. It is usually found in shallow areas, although it can be observed near deep waters over dense vegetation. Goliath herons can even be found in small drinking fountains. They tend to prefer untouched wet areas and generally avoid areas where human disturbances are a regular occurrence.
In the Ria de Aveiro it can be seen in the municipalities of: Aveiro, Ilhavo, Estarreja and Ovar.
Animal “adopted” by Beatriz Costa
Flamingo, Common flamingo or pink flamingo
A few years ago, it was rare to see flamingos in the Ria de Aveiro, as the common flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) was rare and was confined to areas such as the Tagus and Sado estuaries, the Ria Formosa and the Castro Marim marsh, but where, even so, they appeared in small numbers. Today we have several groups of individuals who remain by our estuary
Aveiro salt pans are filling up with birds. At this time of the year, hundreds of individuals come looking for food and shelter from Northern Europe. Mornings and late autumn afternoons are ideal for watching migratory birds, especially flamingos, sandpipers and black-breasted hawks that are arriving in the Ria de Aveiro.
This bird can be seen in the Ria de Aveiro, for example in the salt flats right next to the University.
Animal “adopted” by Rita Vieira, Rita Fernandes and Diogo Leite
Whiting , Mullet | Tainha
Gray mullet also known as Mugil cephalus is a species of fish. It was discovered in 1758, 60-80cm long as an adult, being the target of commercial and recreational fishing and produced in aquaculture for commercial purposes.
Animal “adopted” by Matilde Cruz
Junco
Junco is a botanical genus of flowering plants known as reeds, belonging to the Juncaceae family, seen in the Aveiro estuary close to the water.
Species “adopted” by Valentim Gil
RED-CHEST-ROBIN | Pisco de peito Vermelho
The red-breasted robin (Erithacus rubecula) or simply pisco, also called regionally, pintarroxo, red-red or purple-red, is a small bird that is easily recognized by the orange spot that adorns the chest. It is a melodious and persistent songbird.
It is a small bird, about 14 cm. Adults have a very characteristic rust orange chest and forehead. The young are brown with abundant spots, yellowish brown and change to adult plumage after a year of hesitation.
This species is monogamous and territorial. The nests can be located in holes in the ground, embankments, walls, among the roots of old trees and inside abandoned houses. The nest is bulky, with a base made of dry leaves, and a central "bowl" of moss, herbs and small leaves, covered with finer material, including hair, vegetable fibers and occasionally feathers. The laying is usually made up of 4 to 6 white or slightly bluish eggs, with a variable number of small reddish spots. The incubation lasts 13 to 14 days, and the chicks remain in the nest for an average of about 13 days before leaving the nest.
Animal “adopted” by Francisco Manta
Black Duck | Pato Preto
It can cause astonishment to the less informed the presence of ducks in the sea, even more totally black. However, this occurrence is not abnormal and flocks of considerable dimensions are observed in feeding at sea. The color of the male beak is particularly attractive, contrasting with the rest of the plumage.
Animal “adopted” by Matilde Fidalgo Nunes
Dolphin | Golfinho
Dolphins are aquatic mammals of the order Cetacea (same as whales) and of the family Delphinidae. This is the largest family in the order, with 37 known species, living perfectly adapted to the waters. They are present in all oceans and
in some river waters. They can reach 40 km / h in their swim and jump up to 5 meters out of the water, as they are acrobats. They are sociable animals that live in groups and can interact with other species, for example, with humans.
“Adopted” animal Sofia dos Santos Angeja
Heron | Garça
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae, with 64 recognised species, Egrets are not a biologically distinct group from the herons, and tend to be named differently because they are mainly white or have decorative plumes in breeding plumage. Herons, by evolutionary adaptation, have long beaks.
Animal “adopted” Mariana dos Santos Erny
Kingfisher | Guarda Rios
The kingfisher, as it is a very beautiful animal, this bird is also found in tropical areas.
Animal “adopted” by Anna Santos
Small hock | Mobelha pequena
Small mobs are slender and inland in salt water. During the winter, it has gray tops and white bottoms. The shape is diagnostic, with a slender neck and a thin beak, generally pointing upwards. Nests in the Arctic. During the summer the plumage of the head is gray, the throat is orange, the chest is white and the body is dark. It feeds on fish, diving frequently. It is occasionally seen in large freshwater lakes during migration. Sometimes it occurs in scattered flocks, if enough food is available. It is distinguished from the rest of the furniture by the fine beak.
Animal “adopted” by Maria Vale
LEG - RED | Perna vermelha
The red tones of the beak and paws of this species stand out, quite frantic in the search for food.
Medium sized waders, which, as the name implies, have red legs and a red beak, with a dark tip. It varies its plumage from winter to spring, changing from smooth gray tones on the back, and light chest and abdomen, to a barred pattern on the head, chest and back. Very vocal when scared, like the rest of the waders, it is easily recognizable in flight by the white edges on the back of the wings.
Animal “adopted” by Constança Loureiro
White Wagtail | Alvéola-branca
The white wagtail is a bird typical of the Aveiro region. It is well known for its swinging tail. It is an insectivorous bird, which can adapt in search of food in urban areas such as car parks or any paved area.
Animal “adopted” by Vanessa
To learn more you can visit (PT) http://www.avesdeportugal.info/sitriadeaveiro.html
Writting Team
Beatriz Tapada, Matilde Grave, Vanessa Teles, Maria Vale, Rita Fernandes with all groups 7A, 8C, Clube de Fotografia | AGEIlhavo
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