DOÑANA NATIONAL PARK

INTRO 

Doñana National Park (DNP) is located in the south west of Spain, in the provinces of Huelva and Seville. It was declared a protected area in 1969 thanks to the efforts of Jose Antonio Valverde, an ornithologist from Valladolid, who was then the first director of the park. DNP is the largest wildlife park in Europe. 

It stretches over 543 km ² and is home to more than 360 species of birds, 37 non-aquatic mammals, 13 kinds of reptiles, 20 species of freshwater fish and 10 species of amphibians. It has three main ecosystems: marshes, dunes and woods.

It is also an important and essential pit stop for many migratory birds coming from Africa to the North of Europe. It is also very well known to be home to the Iberian lynx.

                                 BIRDS 

Out of the 160 species of birds that are registered in DNP, here are some of the most common:

WHITE FLAMINGOS

The name of the flamingo comes from the Latin flamen, which means flames

20-30 years is the average lifespan of a flamingo

There are 6 species of flamingo: 4 species of flamingo native to America, while 2 species are native to Asia, Europe and Africa

Bahamas's national bird is the flamingo

The oldest flamingo ever was 83 years old, that's one old bird.

SPATULA BIRD

The spatula birds beak has the form of a spatula, that's why it's called the spatula bird

The spatula birds beak has sensors to detect prey

The spatula bird is in the same family of pelicans, cranes, herons, woodpeckers, etc. ( Threskiornithidae).

Spatula birds live in marshes and lagoons.

They are really easy to identify thanks to their unusual beak

                                           GLOSSY IBIS

Black ibises have iridescent plumage

Black ibises share their home with other birds including herons and egrets

The only breeding site in South-West Europe is Doñana National Park

Usually feeding on  fish they also feed on insects, beetles, crabs, and snails

Normally they live in lagoons, salt marshes and wetlands

B LACK KITE 

The easiest way to recognize a black kite is by its forked tail

Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia are were black kites arefound

They swoop down, eagle style, and jump on their prey

Distinctive shrill whistle followed by a rapid whinnying call is how they communicate

They are partially migrant birds