The little bittern (tarabusino in Italian language) is one of the endangered species protected by LASPEH project. Thanks to daily studies and monitoring mainly in the protected area “Palude del Conte” in the Natural Reserves of the Eastern Coast of Taranto, a management plan of the species will be realized.

The wading bird is often present in the wet areas of the Natural Reserves. At the end of the spring migration, two specimens were brought to the Avifauna Recovery Centre. They were rescued and now are under treatment at the Regional Faunal Observatory of Puglia for a rapid re-entry in the nature.

This species has chosen the rushes as ideal habitat for its life. The majority of little bitterns in the Apulian territories are in passing and often arrive exhausted by the migratory stress. As a matter of fact, the rounded shape of the wing does not let them easily to cover long distances. It usually happens that once arrived from Africa they are exhausted and, thus, easy prey.

The two hospitalized little bitterns have been visited, properly fed, taken form eventual predation and rapidly released in the nature, enabling them to continue their migration towards the North.