A key stopover site in the flyway of migratory birds, the Gialova lagoon, Greece's southernmost major wetland, has been declared an Important Bird Area (IBA), providing shelter to 271 of the 442 recorded bird species in Greece and supporting a mosaic of habitats. It is the only refuge in Europe of the African chameleon, a unique species of reptile that changes skin color depending on its mood.
This magnificent lagoon, surrounded by the natural bay of Voidokilia and featuring a significant sand-dune ecosystem covered by junipers (juniperus phoenicea), is also an archaeological site, making it one of the best known ecotourism destinations in Messinia.
Since 1997, the Hellenic Ornithological Society (the Greek partner of BirdLife International) has been running a volunteer program for the protection and management of the site. In 2007, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, TEMES joined this effort, contributing to environmental education programs and eco initiatives in the area.
The bird calls you can hear on this website have all been recorded from species living or stopping over in the Gialova lagoon and throughout Messinia!