Eressos Small Wetlands

In spring, the scattered small wetlands of Western Lesvos that retain water attract migratory waders and waterbirds, offering them food and rest. Most natural wetlands in the area—such as in Lapsana, Faneromeni, Faros Limena, the Tsichliontas River, the Chrousos estuary, Elafi, the artificial lake of Pithari Monastery, the Voulgari–Ovriokastro estuaries, Skala Eresou, etc.—are very small and often dry out quite early, making it difficult to host large numbers of birds or support many breeding pairs. Their ecological value lies in the fact that together they create a network of valuable feeding and resting stations for birds. The presence of important amphibian and reptile species also calls for protecting the freshwater habitats of relatively sparsely vegetated western Lesvos. In Skala Eresou, at the mouth of the Chalandaras (Psaropotamos) stream, there is a wetland with turtles and a wide variety of rare bird species.