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This WWF Oasis is in the Municipality of Chiusi, in the province of Siena, within a Site of Community Importance (SIC IT5190009) and it is a Special Protection Area (SPA IT5190009).

Located along the southern shore of Lake Chiusi, 20 acres include a shallow water area that offers the perfect habitat to several aquatic species and a hygrophilic forest. Phragmites australis (common reed) can be easily found around the lake and in the open waters; there are also many rare species like Nuphar lutea (yellow water-lily), Trapa natans (water chestnut), Utricularia spp. , Vallisneria spiralis and the evocative Nymphaea alba (white water-lily).

Bird species include one of the largest colonies of herons in central Italy. In addition, there are black-crowned night heron, egrets, red herons and squacco herons (they usually nest in the Oasis), but also glossy ibis and cattle egrets which feel safe and protected by the thick woodland vegetation and the perennially flooded soil.

In spring and autumn, the favourable position for the migrations of birds along the Apennine ridge allows visitors to admire the passage of ospreys, bitterns, black-winged stilts, the black-tailed godwits, common redshanks, and ruffs.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)