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The Canalnovo Oasis is located in the municipalities of Crespino and Villanova Marchesana, in the Province of Rovigo.

This large floodplain of the Po River is of particular wildlife interest due to the presence of many herons. These 99 acres include old clay pits, flooded and surrounded by riparian forest with majestic specimens of Salix alba (white willow) and some Populus canadensis (Canadian poplar).
Except for the periods of drought, the basins are full of floating grasslands of Trapa natans (water chestnut) in the summer and autumn; there is also a lot of Polygonum amphibium.

The fauna of the ponds includes various species of ducks, while the wood is home to arboreal birds such as great spotted woodpeckers, jays, great tits, and long-tailed tits. There are several aquatic birds as well, mainly mallards which nest and spend the winter right here.
It is not uncommon to observe also teals in the winter and migrating garganeys.
Speaking of migration, it is also possible to observe black-winged stilts, ruffs, common greenshanks, little stints, wood and green sandpipers.

Reptiles include Emys orbicularis, Natrix natrix, Natrix tessellata and Col uber viridiflavus; mammals are represented by water voles, hedgehogs, stone martens, weasels, and foxes.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)