The avifauna of the Nera River Park

The river environment of the Valnerina is home to numerous birds that feed on the fish and insects in the watercourses there.

Characteristic species include the Cetti’s warbler, the dipper, the kingfisher and the mountain swallow. Mountain swallows build their nests under rocks near the water, hunting insects in flight.

Climbing from the watercourses towards rocky and wooded areas, it is possible to spot birds of prey such as peregrine falcons and short-toed eagles. The latter is a skilful snake predator and observes the life of the rivers from above, then swoops down at the sight of prey. Recently, the return of the imperial raven has been recorded, a species typical of rocky environments, which was considered extinct in Umbria but is now present on the Valnerina with a few nesting pairs.

There are 58 breeding species in the Nera River Park.

The habitat of the bird species present in the Nera Regional Park consists of variable combinations of the following environments:

• rapid, oxygenated watercourses with riparian tree vegetation and rocky and earthy/sandy banks; submontane deciduous and evergreen sclerophyll forests; 
• rock faces, gorges and ravines; 
• often arid pastures, meadows and arable land at high hill and mountain altitudes; 
• a traditional agricultural landscape, with meadows and arable land alternating with woods, hedges, vineyards and isolated trees, olive groves with dry stone walls, uncultivated land, scattered settlements and rural buildings.