I was sitting on the sofa to rest for a while when I read an article published by the British newspaper, The Guardian. It spoke of two abandoned fields near Monks Wood, a nature reserve in Cambridgeshire, which have become a young forest with about 132 trees per hectare (53 per acre), 57% of which are oaks. Do you know who planted them? Birds! The article explains that «thrushes spread seeds of bramble, blackthorn and hawthorn, and this scrub then provided natural thorny tree “guards” for oaks that grew from acorns buried in the ground by jays».

In fact, in Italian “acorn” is ghianda and “jay” is called ghiandaia precisely because the favorite dish of this bird are the acorns of the oaks! (But it also feeds on chestnuts, hazelnuts, berries, fruit, insects, eggs, larvae…). The jay hides its supplies in the bark of trees or in the soil (under the leaves, under the moss, among the roots …) in order to eat them during the year, especially in cold or less favorable seasons, but it does not always consume its supply of food (it forgets it too!), so, some of the seeds germinate, triggering a natural reforestation.

In Italy the jay is very widespread and obviously prefers wooded areas. It can be seen flying from one branch to another or hopping on the ground throughout the year because it is sedentary (it does not migrate). In April, couples begin to build a nest among the branches of the trees (only about 2 meters high!) That is a real work of art: a cradle made of brushwood, branches, hay threads and softened to ‘ interior from thin roots and moss.

The bird’s scientific name is Garrulus Glandarius and summarizes its two main characteristics: glandurus means that it “feeds on acorns” and we have already discovered why! But garrulus? It means “chatty” !! Yes, because the jay is a very noisy bird. Did you know that it is an excellent imitator of both the song of other birds and sounds and noises? Prudent and suspicious, it sounds the alarm in the woods when there is an intruder! When someone (animal or human) passes by, it signals it with shrill high pitches.

Have you ever seen it? You can recognize it well: red-brown plumage, black tail and … beautiful wings stained with white and blue! It is about 34 centimeters long and weighs from 150 to 190 grams. Too bad she’s a little shy, she rarely gets noticed for a long time!

Irene T.

Follow by Email
WhatsApp

2022 TOURS THAT CAN BE COMBINED WITH CINQUE TERRE OFF THE BEATEN PATH EXPERIENCE

CINQUE TERRE + TUSCAN SPLENDORS

TUSCANY Sept 4-11 - CINQUE TERRE Sept 17-23 (6 night gap)

CINQUE TERRE + AMALFI WANDERS

AMALFI COAST Oct 10-16 - CINQUE TERRE Oct 17-23 (1 night gap)

CINQUE TERRE + SICILIAN FLAVORS

CINQUE TERRE Sept 17-23 - SICILY Sept 25- Oct 1 (2 night gap)
SICILY Oct 9-15 - 5 TERRE Oct 17-23 (2 night gap)

CINQUE TERRE + UMBRIA, ASSISI & LE MARCHE MARVELS

UMBRIA MARCHE Oct 10-16 - 5 TERRE Oct 17-23 (1 night gap)

2022 TOURS THAT CAN BE COMBINED BACK TO BACK 

COMBO DISCOUNT 150€

The nights of gap are not included.
We will provide suggestions for places to visit and stay in between the two tours.

TUSCAN SPLENDORS + AMALFI COAST WONDERS

TUSCANY May 10-17 – AMALFI COAST May 18-24 (1 night gap)
TUSCANY Sept 4-11 – AMALFI COAST Sept 12-18 (1 night gap)
TUSCANY Oct 2-9 – AMALFI COAST Oct 10-16 (1 night gap)
AMALFI COAST Oct 10-16 – TUSCANY Oct 16-23 (no night gap)

TUSCAN SPLENDORS + SICILIAN FLAVORS

TUSCANY Oct 2-9 – SICILY Oct 9-15 (no night gap)
SICILY Sept 1-7 – TUSCANY Sept 11-18 (4 night gap)
SICILY Sept 25-Oct 1 – TUSCANY Oct 2-9 (1 night gap)
SICILY Oct 9-15 – TUSCANY Oct 16-23 (1 night gap)

TUSCAN SPLENDORS + UMBRIA, ASSISI & LE MARCHE MARVELS

UMBRIA MARCHE May 3-9 – TUSCANY May 10-17 (1 night gap)
TUSCANY Sept 11-18 – UMBRIA MARCHE Sept 19-25 (1 night gap)
TUSCANY Oct 2-9 – UMBRIA MARCHE Oct 10-16 (1 night gap)
UMBRIA MARCHE Oct 10-16 – TUSCANY Oct 16-23 (no night gap)

TUSCAN SPLENDORS + CINQUE TERRE OFF THE BEATEN PATH EXPERIENCE

TUSCANY Sept 4-11 – CINQUE TERRE Sept 17-23 (6 night gap)

AMALFI COAST WONDERS + SICILIAN FLAVORS

AMALFI COAST May 18-24 – SICILY May 25-31 (1 night gap)
SICILY Sept 1-7 – AMALFI COAST Sept 12-18 (5 night gap)

AMALFI COAST WONDERS + UMBRIA, ASSISI & LE MARCHE MARVELS

AMALFI COAST Sept 12-18 – UMBRIA MARCHE Sept 19-25 (1 night gap)

AMALFI COAST WONDERS + CINQUE TERRE OFF THE BEATEN PATH EXPERIENCE

AMALFI COAST Oct 10-16 – CINQUE TERRE Oct 17-23 (1 night gap)

UMBRIA, ASSISI & LE MARCHE MARVELS + SICILIAN FLAVORS

UMBRIA MARCHE Sept 19-25 – SICILY Sept 25-Oct 1 (no night gap)

CINQUE TERRE OFF THE BEATEN PATH EXPERIENCE + SICILIAN FLAVORS

CINQUE TERRE Sept 17-23 – SICILY Sept 25- Oct 1 (2 night gap)

SICILIAN FLAVORS + CINQUE TERRE OFF THE BEATEN PATH EXPERIENCE

SICILY Oct 9-15 – 5 TERRE Oct 17-23 (2 night gap)

UMBRIA, ASSISI & LE MARCHE MARVELS + CINQUE TERRE OFF THE BEATEN PATH EXPERIENCE

UMBRIA MARCHE Oct 10-16 – 5 TERRE Oct 17-23 (1 night gap)

WALK RATING

Activity level:
2+ (on a scale from 1 to 5)
Daily Hours:
Up to 3
Daily Distance:
3 to 10 km (2 to 7 miles)
Walking Surfaces:
Gentle with some uneven terrain
Daily Elevation:
Up to 200 mt. (650 feet)
Personal Fitness:
Light exercise weekly, active lifestyle

WALK RATING

Activity level:
3 (on a scale from 1 to 5)
Daily Hours:
Up to 3
Daily Distance:
3 to 10 km (2 to 7 miles)
Walking Surfaces:
Gentle with some uneven terrain
Daily Elevation:
Up to 300 mt. (1000 ft.) - Average day 200 mt (650 ft.)
Personal Fitness:
Light exercise weekly, active lifestyle