Portugal Wildscapes launches birdwatching route in Castro Verde and Mértola – News
The Birdwatching Route is a project by Portugal Wildscapes, a non-profit association that works in Baixo Alentejo to combine tourism with nature conservation, through the involvement of private individuals, local authorities and non-governmental organizations.
“It is a route specially made to think about tourists in the territory who want to see birds, but who don’t know where to drive”, he explained today to the Lusaárbara Pais agency, the project manager.
According to this, the initiative, co-financed by the responsible Alentejo 2020 regional program “arises from an operational need”, identified in the area, “where there is a lack of infrastructure” that allows people to come alone to know the territory and know where to go to see certain species”.
In this sense, Ave Nessert of Observation Route for Ave Nessert de Calota has 10 observation points, which cross the parishes of São Deireiros and Alcança de Mériva (both in the municipality of Aboeira de Méiva), São Marcos da Castro Verde.
“There are signs at the 10 points with information about the birds that can be seen and heard”, revealed Bárbara Pais.
The manager added to Lusa projects that can be all the points visited “a car-on-road”, not being routes in a car-on-road.
“We prefer, preferably, national roads to pass, to ensure that people can stop the car, spend a few moments outside the vehicle watching birds and, in some points, even go for a walk”, he said.
The new route includes very different habitats, ranging from the cereal steppes and steep river valleys to covering weirs and dams, where it will be possible to observe the region’s birdlife, such as the great bustard, the lesser kestrel, the lapwing or the crane.
“We selected viewpoints, which give us a more global view and are excellent for seeing birds of prey, such as the Iberian imperial eagle or Bonelli’s eagle as well”, added Bárbara Pais.
Although the project has not yet been started, Portugal Wildscapes is working on expanding the Bird Observation Route with the municipalities of Castro Verde de Mértola and Serpa.
“We believe that this is a structuring axis for tourism in Baixo Alentejo”, explained Bárbara Pais.
The Bird Watching Route is officially presented this Saturday, with an exclusive visit for tour operators, during the morning.
On Saturday afternoon, tours are planned on Sunday, tours are planned for observation at different observation points, open to all points on Saturday and tours.