A SPECIAL GUEST AT SIOT: THE NORTHERN BALD IBIS
else: ?>There is an unusual presence in these weeks in the San Dorligo della Valle Tank Farm. Its name is “Gemini” and it is a specimen of a very rare bird species, the Northern Bald Ibis.
“Gemini” is a 5-year-old female which appeared a few weeks ago, quickly becoming a usual presence for those who work at SIOT. Her curiosity often led her to settle near the windows of our office, happily posing for the inevitable photos that colleagues take, striving not to disturb her.
Gemini is part of the Northern Bald Ibis reintroduction in nature project, a challenge carried out by the Waldrappteam Association (http://waldrapp.eu) on whose website we read: “The Northern Bald Ibis is a migratory species that was present in Central Europe until the 17th century, before becoming completely extinct because of hunting. Today the Northern Bald Ibis is one of the most endangered species worldwide. As part of a European Union project (LIFE + Biodiversity), with partners in Austria, Italy and Germany the species will be reintroduced to Europe”.
Being part of project involving Italy, Austria and Germany, it seems only natural then that Gemini would choose to settle for a few weeks precisely where the oil pipeline connecting these three countries was born – a coincidence that makes us very happy.
The Northern Bald Ibis is a migratory species, so Gemini will soon fly to other places between Germany and Tuscany, but we hope she enjoyed the break at the San Dorligo site of SIOT and that we will be able to see her again soon.
On the other hand, many other animal species that have found a home in San Dorligo della Valle Tank Farm are not migratory. The uncontaminated and almost undisturbed environment has made it a perfect place for animal life. A few weeks ago, a family of wild boars heading towards the Rosandra stream was sighted, while it is common to encounter roe deer, hares, frogs and many species of birds, among which the herons stand out for their elegance in flight.