Just glimpsed in the humid areas that flank the beaches of Saline, on the coast of Stintino, almost camouflaging themselves with the surrounding environment. Thus the various nests of Little Terns, a protected bird species at risk of extinction, suddenly appeared, caught in the moment in which a female was brooding in the area where there is a ban on transit and parking for all vehicles. The discovery this morning, in front of the "watchful" eye of the Local Police officers who did not hesitate to raise the alarm, this time with the smile and emotion of those who witness a miracle for the first time.
"We were not expecting this sweet surprise," said Gavino Usai, one of the municipal men who, together with the commander Monica Zolesi and the agent Nicola Balzano, activated the procedure to protect the area. The intervention of the forestry corps and the barracellare company also started immediately and, together with the municipal administration, arranged for the delimitation of the safe area to allow the eggs to hatch and the chicks to fly in complete safety .
Also on site to admire the rare event was the mayor Rita Vallebella, who did not hide her enthusiasm and emotion. "These spectacular occasions make us understand how wonderful nature is in all its aspects," said the mayor. " To ensure that the hatching takes place in complete safety, we will delimit the area, where access is already prohibited except for authorized vehicles, to create a protected area that will be monitored . Therefore, we are launching an appeal to volunteers who want to guarantee the presence day and night to ensure that the beauty of this event takes place without problems."
The cute little bird is usually found on the beaches busy looking for food, near the shoreline, in an ecosystem like that of the Saline, with a very fragile and delicate balance that hosts animal and plant species of great naturalistic value. Also on site is the expert ornithologist and wildlife technician Danilo Pisu who specifies: « The Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) is the smallest bird species belonging to the genus Sternula . It is a long-distance migrant, a very rare species, a close relative of sea swallows».