Birding Dolomites and Alps – at the feet of the giants

The Alps and Dolomites undoubtedly boast one among the most strikingly beautiful sceneries Italy has to offer. They are one of Europe’s few remaining wildernesses, a fairy-like scene of pinnacles, towers, snow-capped peaks and sheer walls. The landscapes are varied with woodlands, grasslands, idyllic meadows, picture-perfect alpine pastures, glaciers, and spectacular waterfalls. You can discover a diversity of habitats that makes these mountains important refuges for the preservation of biodiversity. This is an ideal setting for the life of a rich and various wildlife and for a visit leading to the discovery of the wonderful world of the high mountains. The Alps and the Dolomites are also an outdoor museum of the ancient civilizations where staggering nature alternates with fairy-tale castles and remote villages. All these aspects attract researchers and enthusiasts and have always seduced tourists and nature lovers.
The extremely rich bird life of these areas includes Goshawk, Tengmalm’s and Pygmy Owls, and Three-toed and Black Woodpeckers. Snowfinch, Wheatear and Alpine Chough live among cliffs and grasslands. Coniferous woodlands are the ideal habitat for Capercaillie and Hazel Grouse, while Black Grouse prefers treeline habitats. Rock Ptarmigan and Rock Partridge live even higher up, between alpine grasslands and cliffs. Among the area’s man other specialties are Griffon Vulture, Lammergeier, Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush, Alpine Accentor, and Wallcreeper.
The “Alpi” and “Dolomiti” overlook some of the most renowned regions of Italy as Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige. The mountains are easily reachable from Venice, Milan, Verona, Cortina, Turin, and Bolzano.