| Seven hills, ruins of the Colosseum, | | | | eagle-owls and little owls. Villas Borghese |
| Renaissance churches, romantic fountains, | | | | and Ada are inhabited by toads, frogs, |
| streets cafes, a hundred types of | | | | salamanders and newts. But unfortunately very |
| spaghetti... its time to add another | | | | often they become the victims of cars and |
| characteristic to this list - "national | | | | other vehicles. Geckos, lizards and snakes, |
| park," with 110 bird and 26 mammal species, | | | | carps, crucians, grey mullets, eels, pesce |
| 15 species of reptiles and fish and 6 | | | | gatto and spinarello... Rome has a rich |
| amphibia species. | | | | fauna. |
| | | | |
| Falcons settled atop of the Colosseum, ducks | | | | There are so many starlings, that sometimes |
| feel fine at the former riverbed of the | | | | it seems that the number of these birds is |
| Tiber, and there are newts living in its | | | | bigger than the number of people in Rome, |
| nowadays riverbed. Rome has a unique | | | | especially near the Termini station. They |
| ecosystem, like a true national park - in | | | | live in the crowns of Italian pine trees. In |
| many ways, thanks to the absence of | | | | past, when winter came they moved past Italy |
| industrial premises and lack of housing in | | | | and further to Africa. During the last years |
| many of its districts. | | | | they have settled in the Apennines, |
| | | | particularly in Rome, where its always warm, |
| Animals feel at home even in the city centre. | | | | even in winter. In March - April they move |
| There is enough food, the number of predators | | | | back to their motherland - Russia, Finland, |
| is minimum, hunting is banned. One could say | | | | Poland. They feel carefree in Rome: green |
| their life in Rome is even safer than that in | | | | trees are like comfortable cottages excellent |
| a forest - some animals are well adapted to | | | | for winter holidays and rest from problems. |
| the new conditions. Seagulls are among those, | | | | Needless to say, the quality of food is |
| as its takes them only 10 minutes to get to | | | | excellent. There is abundance of insects, |
| Rome from the sea. They are used to building | | | | seeds and other delicacies. |
| their nests by the water, and it seems they | | | | |
| confused the city with an island amidst the | | | | At the same time, despite their small size, |
| ocean, and the tiled roofs of Rome with | | | | they can cause much trouble to the citizens |
| rocks. In their wildlife habitats they | | | | of the Eternal city, mainly because of their |
| usually hunt for fish, but here their target | | | | dung. But let's forget about these little |
| is food debris swimming in the muddy Tiber. | | | | worries and see the beautiful bird flight |
| Ornithologists have countered at least 300 | | | | many people admire with. Its a gigantic |
| matches of birds having permanent residence | | | | piping swarm which is constantly changing its |
| in prestigious districts by the river. | | | | shape. It seems that the sky is studded with |
| | | | little flickering dots which are then united |
| Kestrel demonstrates its evolution against | | | | into one moving cloud. When April comes |
| the background of the ancient ruins on the | | | | starlings leave the banks of the Tiber and |
| Palatine Hill. The same with pigeons, | | | | head north, bringing spring to the lands they |
| sparrows, crows, ducks, herons, kites, owls, | | | | fly to. |