Local fauna
Some of the region’s most emblematic birds regularly fly over the valley, such as the Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) and the Black Stork (Ciconia nigra). Next to the river, we can catch a sight of the timid Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), glimpse the rapid flight of the Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) or the Dipper (Cinclus cinclus). Also in the river, you can find the shy Mediterranean terrapin (Mauremys leprosa), which spends long hours sunbathing.
Of the smaller but no less attractive species, an interesting diversity of butterflies occurs here, of which the most noteworthy are the Moroccan Orange-tip (Anthocharis euphenoides), the Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi), the Iberian Sooty Copper (Lycaena bleusei), the Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops), the Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthamelii), Cardinal Fritillary (Argynnis pandora), Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines) and the Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina).
Local flora
In this territory, botanical elements of a continental and Mediterranean nature combine. The tree cover (in recovery), is formed by the Pyrenean Oak (Quercus pyrenaica), the Cork Oak (Quercus suber), the Holm Oak (Quercus rotundifolia), the Portuguese Oak (Quercus faginea) and the Common Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia).
The shrub association is diversified, being mainly composed by Common Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Turpentine Tree (Pistacia terebinthus), White Broom (Cytisus multiflorus) and Butcher’s broom (Ruscus aculeatus). Countless plants complete the flowering list, including the beautiful Paeonia broteri and the Iberian endemics, Erysimum linifolium, Euphorbia oxyphylla, Mullein Foxglove (Digitalis thapsi), Ornithogalum concinnum and Narcissus rupicola.
Ermo das Águias, the trail
This rewilding area is located 2 km from the village of Vale de Madeira (Pinhel). From the village, we take a rural path which descends to the Gaiteiros stream, where the entrance to the Ermo das Águias is located. In this area, there are several hiking alternatives for exploring this natural area, either briefly or for a longer period of time.