Wildlife in the Sierra Morena, Andalucia
Dehesa
The black vulture is bulkier than its relative the griffon vulture.
This scavenger is typical of our pastures and one of the most important
birds of the Iberian fauna. Dehesa ("pastured arable land" ) is a type
of forest, half way between forest and grassland, resulting from the
thinning of oak, cork oak (original forest, dense and virgin).
La Dehesa has its origins in the migration (migration of livestock
from summer pastures, on the tops of the mountains and winter pastures
to the lower sheltered valleys). It is the best example of ecological
balance between nature and use of their resources by man. The pasture
is a unique ecosystem in the world and source of extraordinary biodiversity
of both animal and plant species.
The Flora
Wild
mint, clover, water, rock, strawberry, lavender, thyme, rosemary, lavender,
... inhabit the meadow, giving life and flavor to these lands of extraordinary
beauty and ecological value. A local treasure is the "Centaurea
tentudaica", a unique flower endemic, specially protected, which
grows around the refuge.
The oaks and other trees-oak, oak, aspen, poplar, Gall ... - are home
to most woody species: mastic, Torviscas, asparagus, red currant ...
The Fauna
The pasture is a haven for fauna that have originated from the original
ecosystem. The oak covered hillside is rich in animal species, an "oasis"
in a sea of grass, factors that attract flora and original fauna. Within
the refuge area there are three main habitats: trees, grass and bushes.
The phytophagous insects that feed on vegetable matter such as herbivores, which feed on grass (the deer), or fruit bats, which feed on fruit. (The boar), ...
Carnivores that feed on flesh:
The superpredators and scavengers, feeding on corpses. (Black Vulture)
Faunal groups as by their presence throughout the year:
Hibernating animals used the meadow as a winter refuge (the Crane)
Summer animals that breed in the paddock and then leave (Marsh Harrier)
Sedentary animals that stay all year at the Dehesa (Imperial Eagle)
One of the most significant and fascinating species of the meadow is
the Azure, eastern in origin. Likewise, the most characteristic mammal
of the paddock is the genet.
The wood pigeon is a large consumer of acorns in winter. The blue black-shouldered kite frequents the oak treees.
The hoopoe, which uses old trees to install a nest in the holes. Hares, lovers of open spaces, are located in the pasture, while the rabbit prefers scrub. The owl, woodpecker, turtle doves ..., rattles, blackbirds, cuckoos, titmice, chickadees, ... and many more are the rich birdlife of our fields.
Among the reptiles, we cite the Ocellated lizard, which is the largest in Europe. Among the amphibians there is the Iberian newt, and the midwife toad.
These are some of the animals that frequent the area around the mountain retreat of Sierra Morena.
