From these facilities we can contemplate the birds that inhabit the Fuente de Piedra lagoon, one of the most extensive saline-lagoon complexes in the Iberian Peninsula. Its 1,365 hectares constitute the base level and natural drainage of an endoreic basin of 153 km2. This wetland stands out for its extensive shallow water morphology, being exposed to the wind, with a fairly flat relief, a characteristic plant border and a marked seasonal character conditioned by rainfall, with a flood and low water scheme that, except on rare occaisions, keeps the area lagoon dry during the summer.

And it is in summer, more than ever, observing the whitish sheet that extends before us, when we can get an idea of the interest that this salty and seasonal lagoon held as far back as Roman times for the extraction of salts. This activity lasted until the middle of the 20th century, inevitably affecting both the morphology of the lagoon and the circulation of water, due to the construction of perimeter channels that drained the streams to increase salinity and the yield.

The abandonment of the salt exploitation allowed the recovery of the natural balance of the lagoon and the establishment of reproduction colonies of aquatic birds in the remains of the dikes of the old salt mines. The observation of birdlife (more than 170 species) is conditioned by their seasonal presence and the water level. The flamingo is the most characteristic bird of Fuente de Piedra and, when conditions are favourable, you can see the flamingo breeding colony on Senra Island during the spring season.