Birds of Txingudi

One of the chief flows of avian migration is that crossing Europe throughout the Atlantic façade, from Scandinavia to Spain and, by means of the Strait of Gibraltar, to Africa. Txingudi (around the Bidasoa river mouth, comprising the localities of Irún and Hondarribi, in Gipuzkoa, and Hendaia, in France), is found in the point where this route meets Iberia, resulting hence in one of the main bird migration areas in Spain. Undoubtedly, the specific location of Txingudi contributes to enhance and explain this importance, since it is found in a natural funnel, with the Cantabrian sea to the East, and the Pyrenees to the West, being these two important geographic barriers that many species tend to avoid to cross during their migrations.

Txingudi was in the past one the main wetlands in the Cantabrian coast, since the marshland reached all the places in the bay affected by tide, up to 5 m a.s.l. From the 16th century, perhaps from earlier, the marshland was dried and transformed into agricultural and urban areas, with the main changes occurring during the 20th century. Currently, the marshland in Txingudi is only a part of which was during the past, up to the point of being small natural patches in a matrix of industrial and urban areas.

However, Txingudi is still a very relevant stopover site for many migratory birds, among which we find endangered species, such as the Spoonbill or the Aquatic Warbler. Thus, it is noteworthy that Txingudi is included in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.(Ramsar).

Aranzadi Society of Sciences - Aranzadi Ringing Office
Plaiaundi Ecological Park - Have you found a ringed bird?