Birdwatching on the Aurunci gorges

Here you can find a selection of some of the most interesting Italian endemic species and the places where you can find them is between these dry, sunny, wild canyons and gorges of southern Latium. These vertical cliffs here on the highest peaks offer an amazing scenario, probably the most suitable for experiencing more of the natural beauty. These landscapes are among some of the most attractive wild areas in southern Italy, even if you are not a birder.

It is on the Aurunci Mountains rocky gorges that some of the most exciting animals find shelter and live their lives. The southernmost slopes of the Aurunci Mountains reach the sea at Punta Cetarola around Sperlonga and at Mt Orlando in Gaeta .

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Among these deep rocky gorges and peaks it is common to spot the Eurasian Kestrel (Falco Tinnunculus) and the majestic Peregrine Falcon (Falco Peregrinus). From the breathtaking cliffs of Monte Fammera’s on the eastern Aurunci’s range, the peregrine falcon attacks the exhausted migrating birds coming and going from Africa. The Peregrine is one the larger falcons and it offer fantastic acrobatic hunting shows with long, fast, near vertical stoops of over 700 metres in narrow canyons and large open spaces up to the village like Maranola and Castellonorato, ready to nobble its preys.

But the top predator of the rocky gorges comes out at night. They possess a sense of sight and hearing are far better than ours. They really can see in the dark, and can hear the high pitched squeak of a mouse on the ground below from a considerable distance.

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We are talking about the powerful Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo), Europe's biggest owl. With a length 70 cm reaching an average wait of 3 Kg, they are more powerful than a Golden eagle. They have their typical large ear-tufts and big, impressive orange eyes. Even if they are residents, they are rare birds on the Aurunci and not easy to spot. Also they are mostly nocturnal, flying and hunting all through the night and they choose very inaccessible places where to nest which makes them even more difficult to observe. This species is extremely sensitive to man's presence and tend to avoid coming closer to urban areas or even cultivated countryside.

Large number of these beautiful owls has been killed by illegal shooting and by overhead wires, either by direct collision or by electrocution. The level of nest-robbing by egg-collectors is also high. In a natural environment they are quite adaptable as they can inhabit extremely varied habitats, from cliff faces in mountainous regions to steep slopes in low woodlands. In winter, they are also seen on flat land. But here on the Aurunci Mountains they prefer the parks areas with open forest in rocky areas, so that they have trees to rest in during the day and rocky crevices to make their nests in. Their presence alone represent a serious and deadly warning for any other bird, including eagles and other birds of prey.

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They have fairly large territories which they guard from any other potential competitor which they do not hesitate to attack and kill. With an average wait of 3 kg the Eagle owl is at the very top of the food chain, and will hunt and kill anything from a small deer to a mouse. Little cubs of red foxes and baby lambs have also been attacked by these powerful birds. They swoop silently down on their prey, grabbing it with their deadly talons and flying off with it in their beak. Small creatures are normally swallowed whole, larger ones ripped apart. Some hours later, the they vomits up a little parcel called pellet of bones.

In Disney cartoons they are represented as the ‘old wise guys’ and this is certainly not a surprise given that they cal live up to 40 years lifespan. As they first sun of ray start warming the mountains morning air, the Eagle owls, choose their local part of woodland where they will spend the rest of their day resting. Meanwhile the sun is getting higher and hotter. The paths among the low Mediterranean shrubs and taller grass typical of the Mediterranean bush, such as ampelodesma hides the Whitethroats (Sylvia communis) while on the cliffs and deep gorges the Blue Rock Trush (Monticola Solitarius) sings its musical warbling, blackbird-like songs carrying far across gorges and cliffs. The open spaces between 800 and 1200 mt are often occupied by prairies of beautiful Upright Brome (Bromus erectus). Typical of this environment is also the less common Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis) with its beautiful multicolour plumage in bleu, orange and white and the smaller and mimetic Tawny Pipit, (Anthus campestris) exhibiting in its distinctive fast undulating flight with sudden falls and burst of quick wingbeats. A new day is starting on the Aurunci.

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