Présention of the various actors animaliers and natural observable in Castagniccia.

OUR BLOW OF HEART : The ASS U ZUMERU

The nicest and affectionate noblest animal, of all Castagniccia. In its glance reflects all the kindness of its character. Always ready to render service, the ass is in Castagniccia what what other animals are with other rural civilizations. Animal of pack and feature it is with his / her cousin the mule, the essential servant of the men to the sorrow, ploughmen and conveyors of harvest it will not hesitate to lean its nostrils sympathetic nerves in the open cockpit of your car if you to condescend to pay homage to him.
One should not confuse an ass with a mule. Animal particularly persistent, the mûle is specialized in the heavy loads trés, it is the product of the crossing of a anness with a horse.The mûle does not reproduce. One finds also the mule on Internet. It is a useful animal less gracious than the horse is less charming than the ass (but it is only one personal opinion…).

SAVAGE ANIMALS

Moufflon A will muvra

Emblematic figure, it lives in Corsica since 8000 years. One finds it today only in the high mountains up to 2500 meters of altitude pushed here by some malevolent individuals and the fires.You have, alas, little chance to find some in Castagniccia. It goes down again in winter to protect itself from the cold and to find food, it is the best period besides to observe it around the Nina or Melo Lakes. Current manpower varies from 400 to 600 individuals protected by the guards from the Natural reserve.

The stag u cervu

Disappeared into 1969 following the massive clearings and the various human harmful effects, it was reintroduced very recently in Corsica by the Natural reserve starting from high individuals sardes in enclosure in Corsica, this cervidé however did not elect residence in Castagniccia since it lives on the heights of the Alta Rocca.

The wild boar u cignali

The fox volpe

Snakes una sarpa

Dissimulated in the heart of the maquis, the grass snakes are sometimes gray, yellow or green. The bite is without danger. There are no vipers in Castagniccia and Corsica.

The tarente

Abundant in Castagniccia in the cracks of rocks old walls of the dwellings. This gecko night takes sun baths to increase its temperature and to facilitate its digestion.Its fingers comprise suction cups which enable him to move on smooth walls.

The hedgehog u ricciu

Rare in Castagniccia beyond 500 meters of altitude.

The weasel bellula

Only Corsican carnivore of the family of Mustélidés, attends in Castagniccia but particularly difficult to observe. She often circulates along the low walls of properties.

The Bat

Queen of the night when it leaves to drive out the insects, thirty species are listed in Corsica (Rhinolophe, Pipistrelle, Molosse…). The night will frequently cross it to you in Castagniccia where it benefits from the natural and artificial shelters (dwellings) while being to the shelters of insecticide. Largest is Molosse of Cestonie but this last species is rather rare in Castagniccia because it has the practice of coastal cliffs rather.

DOMESTIC ANIMALS

The pig u porcu

Generally, the insular pig remains outside, winter like summer. It is a large sweet chestnut amateur of underwood.A feet, à.vélo or with bicycle you will be to invite to often cross the animal.

The ewe

Pecura Corsa. Of local race, 120 000 animals are listed in the island.
The goat

This animal of great rusticity which exploits spaces in which as well as possible it evolves / moves. The Corsican goat's milk cheese contributes to the manufacture of famous cheese, the brocciu. The goat high in is libertée in Castagniccia. The morning it "is released", the evening, it returns to the shelter. It is the occasion of admier the herds.

The Corsican cow vaca

Near to "brown to the Atlas", this cow of small gauge often has a dark maroon coat with a yellow line on the spine. Sometimes thinned, sometimes ventrue, it often wears a dress to thick hairs. Castagniccia (and Corsica moreover more generally) produced very little milk, the meat on the other hand is produced under the label "Calf of Corsica". Attention, the Corsican cow are running free on the roads and the ways. This is a truth, but not a general information

The Corsican dog u ghjacaru

The cat u ghjattu

BIRDS

The golden eagle un'acula

With any lord, any honor one starts with him as regards the birds (order of Accipitriformes, Famille of Accipitridés, Genre and species Aquila chrysaetos). It is one of the largest raptors and most majestic. This diurnal raptor of great scale (2,50 m on average, a length from 75 to 88 cm for a weight from 3 to 6 kg) has a varied diet. It is able to consume mammals of average size like the fox. It also captures alive animals of small size like the reptiles, the birds or soups living like carrion. It nourishes sweet chestnuts sometimes. The majority of the preys are seized on the ground but birds can be it in full flight thanks to its very robust fingers with the long bent nails ensuring a sufficient catch. The golden eagle drives out by furrowing a slope, surprising the animals with overdraft; it plunges then on its prey at a speed being able to reach the 150 km/h. Its hooked, powerful and sharp-edged nozzle enables him to tear its preys and to bring back the pieces distributed to the eaglets of them to its rest area. Its remarkable sight enables to locate him small distant preys. The eagle spends much time to plane ; benefitting from the ascending draughts hot, its long wings are finished by isolated primary rémiges which improve its evolutionary capacities. In Corsica, the population is estimated at about thirty couples distributed along the central chain (high summits of Cinto, of Goes up of Oro, Aiguilles of Bavella) in the Corsican Cape and in Castagniccia, mainly in the zones the least disturbed by the men. Completely protected its longevity varies from 15 to 20 years but can reach 40 to 45 years in captivity. This recluse knows also the life of couple, with sexual maturity with 4 or 5 years (the period also corresponds to that of the final plumage), the period of reproduction extends from February to July, only one laying gives rise to 2 mackled white eggs of brown brooded 6 weeks. Young person of chicks seldom survives dying of hunger or succumbing to its elder.

The sparrowhawk

Royal Milan

Raptor of average size (150 centimetres of scale), this beautiful vulture haunts the airs of Castagniccia. Its full and untied flight, cut rare "mewings", remains generally quiet.

The falcon

The black trip hammer

It is a visitor of summer (from May to August) which makes their nest under the edge of the roofs. They connect peaceful blows of wings brutal then planed, by emitting strident cries.

The small duke scops

On the contrary Large Duke, hunter of campagnols, and which can exceed the three kilos, the small-duke exceed hardly 100 grams and nuitamment nourish various grasshoppers and insects. Its chuintement is of a great softness.

The russet-red magpie grièche

OTHER BIRDS

Grive

The Sparrowhawk

The Robin

Frequent in Castagniccia because it is a bird in the search of raised small valleys and places fresh.

Mountain Venturon

Under Corsican species of this alpine nichor prefers to live in the maquis and the young pines, or in the bushes, close to the odorous alders. Its singing exercises are a wonder of purity.

The Linnet

Tarier

The black Blackbird una merula

The Warbler

Geai of oaks

The Kinglet of the oaks

BIRDS OF THE CHESTNUT

Torcol Fourmilier

The Nice Troglodyte

The Coal Tit

The CORSICAN EUPROCTE