Umbrellas Rainbow - Malpartida de Caceres - Spain

by Paolo Signorini

Title

Umbrellas Rainbow - Malpartida de Caceres - Spain

Artist

Paolo Signorini

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Malpartida De Caceres


Malpartida de Cáceres is located in a pseudo-steppe area, in an undulating landscape dotted with huge granite boulders. The climate is characterized by irregular rainfall, with long and dry summers. In these conditions small water reservoirs get very important for the local fauna. There the water remains throughout the year because granite soils don’t allow water infiltration to lower layers. Granite boulders and water mean rich ecosystems with refuge areas and feeding opportunities for wildlife. Los Barruecos Protected Area three kilometres south of the village is the best example of this habitat: a spectacular landscape, with enormous boulders and four artificial lakes. The storks of this unique colony nest on top of the boulders. Near to Malpartida there are two protected areas: San Pedro Mountains – home to the rare Spanish Imperial eagle and a large colony of Black vultures - and Llanos de Cáceres y Sierra de Fuentes, where steppe birds like Great and Little bustard live. Since 1990 the number of storks in Malpartida rapidly increased from 58 to 212 pairs in 2009. The main reason was the presence of a large waste disposal site near Malpartida. Storks found an easy food resource and changed their feeding habits and migration routes. People in the village of Malpartida suffered high pressure on buildings due to the weight of stork nests. In 2009 the open landfill was closed and replaced by another one where waste is recycled or treated. As a consequence, the number of breeding pairs is now reducing to a more natural level. In 2016 there were 151 stork nests in Malpartida.

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October 28th, 2022

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