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Saltmarshes & Hydrobiotops (Wetland Biotopes)
The largest and most important part of the Wetland Biotope of Kalloni Gulf belongs to the Municipality of Agia Paraskevi. This wetland biotope is included in the national list of protected areas Natura 2000 while it is also one of the Important Areas for Birds in Greece.
More specifically (from west to east) the following wetland biotopes belong to the Municipality of Agia Paraskevi:
River Tsiknias and its mouth,
River Mylopotamos and its mouth,
Kantri,
Messa wetland,
River Vouvaris and its mouth and
The sea area within the limits of the above.
These wetlands form a special complex within which we find an important variety of bird species. They are also widely known abroad and during the last years, they have become the destination of hundreds of bird watchers.
The importance of these wetlands comes both from their special features and their geographic position, as well as from the fact that they are easily accessible to visitors. Here, we can find birds from Europe, Asia and Africa, while their populations differ according to seasons. Undoubtedly, one of the most important features is the spring migration, when birds coming from Africa, where they have spent the winter, travel to Europe, where they will stay until the end of the summer to breed.
Some of the most important bird species, found commonly in the wetlands of the area are:
Recurvirostra avocetta,
Phoenicopterus ruber,
Himantopus himantopus,
Tadorna ferruginea,
Ciconia nigra,
Ciconia ciconia,
Burhinus oedicnemus,
Tringa totanus,
Egretta alba,
Egretta garzetta,
Plegadis falcinellus,
Philomachus pugnax and other.
The Saltmarshes Alikes, at the south of Agia Paraskevi, cover an area of 3.500 roods and are an importance source of wealth for the area since they produce 35-40 thousands of tons of salt per year.
Apart from their economic importance however, alongside with their peripheral canal and the area of Messa wetland and the mouth of river Vouvari, they constitute one of the most important wetland biotopes of the country, since they offer shelter to a marvelous and numerous variety of birds, most of which are rare.
Black pelicans and flamingos, whose pinkish feathers offer an exotic touch to the scenery, are but some of the rare birds. This makes the area especially attractive to researchers and visitors who wish to observe the birds of the area, but also for all nature lovers, throughout the year, notably in spring time, from March until June.
A special observation tower for wild ducks has been recently constructed in Alikes, the most important wetland of the area.
This constitutes the first infrastructure project on the island which aims at facilitating the visiting birdwatchers. It offers the possibility to effectively observe birds even at the most inaccessible parts of the salt marsh, something which is very important for visitors, while at the same time, it protects the birds from all kinds of disturbance. The observation towers orientation offers good light conditions during the morning hours (07.00-12.00).
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