Doñana National Park
The National Park of Doñana is situated between the south-eastern corner of the province of Huelva and the south-western area of the province of Seville with an extension of 55,000 hectares of protected land in which there are vast wetlands and forests of stone pines and cork-oaks. For hundreds of years it was the royal hunting grounds (Cotos) where kings, queens and other notable dignitaries would come to enjoy their sport.
Then, in the mid-1960's, a part of the land was purchased to aid conservation of the area and in 1969 it was declared as a National Park. more land was added over the years until it became what it is today. In 1981, certain areas of the park were turned into Biospheric Reserves and in 1988 it was given the status of a Special Protection Area for birds. Finally, the park was declared a World Heritage Site in 1994.
The four main visitor’s centres are to be found on the edge of the park's boundaries. These are open to the public and should form a part of any visit to the region. These areas offer access to some of the finest birdwatching sites in Europe. it is here that large numbers of birdwatchers from all over the world visit each year.
The importance of the Doñana region as a conservation site cannot be overstressed. Millions of wintering birds, mainly waterfowl and waders from the north, flock to the area each year and many millions more use it as a feeding station during the migration periods. It is also of major importance as a breeding ground for some of the scarcest and most endangered bird species in Europe.
Over 250 different species are regularly seen here and rarities are often recorded. The geographical position means that the area is likely to attract any vagrants or accidentals that may wander, or be storm-blown, into the region. The habitats change quickly in Doñana. They include vast wetlands, where storks, ibis, spoonbills, Booted Eagle Hovering above Doñana flamingos, terns, herons, egrets and other waders are found, extensive forests that harbour treecreepers, orioles, woodpeckers, flycatchers, and an assortment of finches, tits and warblers, open scrubland, where larks, sandgrouse, wheatears, chats and pipits are common and lagoons, which are frequented by ducks, geese and grebes. Overhead, there are always eagles, kites, harriers, buzzards and falcons.
Doñana holds the largest breeding populations of some of Europe’s most attractive birds, namely the Iberian (Azure-winged) Magpie, the Purple Swamp-hen, the Glossy Ibis, the Pin-tailed Sandgrouse and the Red-knobbed Coot. It also has significant numbers of Spanish Imperial Eagles, Black-shouldered Kites, Marbled Ducks, White-headed Ducks and winter visiting Common Cranes.
Adjoining Doñana, there are vast areas where rice is grown. The harvesting season (late September, October and November) creates an avian spectacle that should not be missed by birders. After the rice has been cut, the remaining stalks are ploughed back into the still wet earth to add nutrients to the soil for the following season. The tractors that perform this task are fitted with wide rear wheels that are made of slatted metal. As the tractors are ploughing the stalks back into the earth, they are also churning up millions of small fish, eels, crayfish, frogs, newts, insects, grubs and larvae. This attracts thousands of birds of many different species to the fields to join in a spectacular frenzy of feeding.
Copyright (c) 2009 BirdersandPutters.com. All Rights Reserved. Design by S.P.