EuroBirdwatch - Ostia LIPU Oasis Stage

A European census overlooking the mouth of the Tiber

EuroBirdwatch is the most important European event dedicated to birdwatching: a single weekend during which thousands of volunteers in about twenty-nine countries head into the field simultaneously to count migrating birds. International coordination is handled by BirdLife Europe; in Italy, the event is organized by LIPU - BirdLife Italia, which connects dozens of oases, reserves, wetlands, and protected areas from Piedmont to Sicily every year. In the Lazio region, the most well-known stage is the Roman one at the Ostia LIPU Oasis, located in the Municipality of Rome, in one of the most surprising natural areas in the entire region.

The Ostia LIPU Oasis, a treasure trove of biodiversity

The Centro Habitat Mediterraneo (CHM) is located on Via dell'Idroscalo, behind the Tourist Port of Rome, within the State Nature Reserve of the Roman Coast. It is an oasis of about twenty hectares created by LIPU starting in 2001 on an area previously degraded and occupied by a landfill: today, it features a reconstructed coastal pond with aquatic, riparian, and Mediterranean scrub vegetation. In just over twenty years, the site has become a reference point for ornithologists in the capital, with over 220 bird species surveyed.

During the days of EuroBirdwatch, which fall at the beginning of October in the midst of post-breeding migration, the oasis is particularly generous. Among the species that can be observed from the hides and along the paths:

• Greater Flamingos, now frequent in the wetlands of the Lazio coast
• Spoonbills and herons stopping along the migratory route
• Marsh Harriers and other raptors in transit
• Kingfishers and pied avocets
• Ducks and wintering birds arriving from Northern Europe

How the Roman stage works

The program at the Ostia oasis spans the entire weekend and alternates between educational moments and field observation. Guided birdwatching tours are led by the center's staff: it is recommended to bring binoculars and comfortable shoes, as you will be walking along paths and stopping for long periods at the observation points. Alongside the outings, there are educational workshops for children, curated by partner associations, and in-depth meetings with naturalists and illustrators. In the 2025 edition, the two-day event concluded with the release of a wild animal rehabilitated by the LIPU wildlife recovery center in Rome, one of the most moving moments for the public.

More than just observation: citizen science

EuroBirdwatch is not just a simple nature walk. The data collected throughout Europe during the same weekend flows into a comprehensive count that, in recent editions, has exceeded three million observed birds and eight hundred events. LIPU complements the observations with friendly challenges between participating sites (total number of species, sighting of the secret species, largest group of participants) and, throughout the month of October, a calendar of birdwatching activities dedicated to children in its oases and reserves.

Why it's worth visiting

For those living in Rome or visiting the capital, EuroBirdwatch at the Ostia Oasis is an unusual way to discover the coastline: just a few kilometers from the excavations of Ostia Antica and the beaches of the Lido, the river meets the sea, creating a mosaic of environments that welcomes migration. Admission is free, but reservation is mandatory because groups are limited: it is advisable to write to the center's address a few days in advance. It is an activity also suitable for those who have never used binoculars, families, and nature photographers.