EVOA: a haven for birdwatching on the outskirts of Lisbon

Flamingos, eagles, marrequinhas, fishing-geese, herons, warblers. In total, the estuary of the river Tagus is home to about 200 different species of birds. Was the natural wealth of the estuary itself that it has boosted the site as one of the most important meeting points, at national level, of migratory species.

Among this wealth of the Tagus estuary and the Lezíria de Vila Franca de Xira-where the Tagus and Sorraia converge, giving rise to the largest wetland of Portugal, was born at the end of 2012 a natural paradise for birds EVOA name (space of Visitation and birdwatching).

Celebrating a year of life, this space is assumed already as a place of excellence for birdwatching and for those who want to learn more about the biodiversity that exists in the region of greater Lisbon.

About 70 hectares, EVOA integrates three freshwater ponds â€" the main, the Shallow and Wide. In each of these wetlands that are strategically placed observation points of birds, although the animals can be observed from any point of booking.

Although the estuary receive 200 different bird species, not all pass through EVOA. According to Sandra P, Coordinator of the space, this last winter were accounted for approximately 14 thousand birds of 45 different species.

In addition to the birds, visitors can still find wild boars and foxes, which circulate freely by booking online. Also there were otters, but currently no animal of this species inhabits the place.

Dissemination through the "pass it on"

Since the opening in April of 2013, who have passed away by EVOA about 4,000 visitors, being that most visits occur between November and January, when there are more birds in the reserve due to winter migrations.

Visits can be made autonomously, but this mode is more advisable to observers and experienced photographers. For amateur observers a guided tour is the best option â€" there is no risk of losing the tracks and the identification of birds is facilitated by the help of guides.

The best time of day to visit is during the high tide, since the flow of the river and estuary birds on refuge in artificial ponds EVOA, allowing for better observation.

According to Sandra P, most visitors never made bird-watching before and is from Lisbon. "Maybe the inhabitants of Vila Franca do not appreciate so much space for are already in the lezíria", points to the Coordinator. Most who visit this paradise undisturbed in the middle of the lezíria goes into groups or families or in study tours offered by various educational institutions. "It is customary to see a person who came in group go back some time later with another different group. Works quite the wrong word ", indicates.

According to the Coordinator of the space, the objective is that the Center will receive between 10 to 15 thousand visitors annually within three years, which should promote the self-sustainability of the place.

In addition to the rails and strategic points of observation of the birds, the EVOA has an interpretive center where visitors reception is made. In the Center there is a permanent exhibition where visitors can get to know the different bird species and their characteristics, migration routes and a little of the history of the estuary and the lezíria. There is also an interactive space with games and movies.

In addition to visitors, the playful and components still gathers EVOA pedagogical, by performing and workshops and ateliers, both for families and for the schools.

The project was born of a protocol EVOA, initiated in 2007, between the breeze and the Companhia das Lezírias, owner of the land, under the programme for Biodiversity Breeze. The space cost three million, with the breeze contributed €1,3 million. The remaining funds came from the National Strategic reference framework. Later, also the Institute of nature conservation and forestry, city of Vila Franca, of Aquaves, the Association of the beneficiaries of the Lezíria Grande de Vila Franca de Xira and the League for nature protection joined the project.

Currently, the space is guaranteed by the Breeze and the Companhia das Lezírias until 2017, at which time it is anticipated that the space becomes self-sustaining.

The EVOA can be visited throughout the year, with prices ranging between € 6.6 and € 12. However, this year the space will be closed during July for maintenance of Rails, month in which there are fewer birds in the reserve. 

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Gold particles found in Australian eucalyptus trees

Gold particles were found in leaves of eucalyptus tree in Western Australia, according to researchers at the Earth Science and Resource Evaluation (CSIRO). The discovery was published in Nature Communications, advances the National Geographic, and indicates that the eucalyptus trees with large roots â€" which can reach 40 feet deep â€" steal gold ore deposits and store it in their leaves.

"Eucalyptus acts as a hydraulic pump-its roots extend tens of meters into the soil and suck the water containing gold. As the metal is toxic to the plant, the substance is expelled to the leaves and branches, "says the research.

Still, the ore concentration is very low â€" 46 parts per billion--that is, less than 0.000005% of the weight of each leaf. To make a gold ring would require 500 trees, advances the study.

The real usefulness of discovery is not in wealth that comes from holding, of course, but the fact that she will help companies to find untapped deposits. This method promises to be more eco-friendly â€" even if, ideally, the particles should stay where they are.

For this discovery, researchers, led by Melvyn Lintern, compared the Eucalyptus leaves from nearby Australian prospectors with leaves of the same species, created in an oven. In the lab, half grew up with soil dosed with particles of gold, while the other half had natural soil. The comparison is elaborated in the document published.

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The Amb3E will challenge all visitors of Rock in Rio-Lisbon to give a new life to your used equipment. On the stand of the Association, at the parque da Bela Vista, the festival-goers, testing your marksmanship, will forward the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) for the Electron to be properly recycled. Those who show that they have the most apt sight will be able to take home gifts.

Amb3E's stand will recreate a tent, where the audience will be able to do target practice, doing fall several appliances at one point electron. Simultaneously, mobile brigades disguised old phones Electron will traverse the city of Rock, encouraging the public to pass by stand and give a new life to your used equipment. The activation will be in charge of the Pepper.

This is the first time the Amb3E will be present at Rock in Rio-Lisbon with a stand. The action is part of the Mission of the Association to sensitize the population to the importance of the recycling of WEEE. Since its inception in 2006, the Amb3E has promoted and supported several projects of communication on this subject, as schooling electron and Electron headquarters, and more recently the POW-Gives the Power to the electron and the project 80.

Photo: Rodrigo Sá/Creative Commons

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Until late April, Refer claims to have wi-fi in 30 seasons as a result of the partnership with the digital marketing agency Go4Digital. The company has already launched the Wifi network Refer Free train stations Lisbon of STA. Apolónia, Cais do Sodré, Entrecampos and Seven Rivers and, according to one less Car, is also market this communication support for the brands.

"This network provides not only free Internet users, but also allows the brands have more a communication platform," stresses Go4Digital. Wi-fi is available 12:0 am a day and can be accessed from your computer or mobile devices.

By the end of the month, the wi-fi network of Reference will be extended to nine stations, namely Rossio, Amadora, Sintra, Roma-Areeiro, São Bento, Campanhã, Faro, Coimbra and Aveiro. By the end of April, the purpose of the Reference goes through equip a total of 30 railway stations across the country.

According to a study by the Marktest, quoted by Go4Digital, there were 3.5 million users of smartphones in Portugal in August of 2013, which represents 40% of the total number of holders of mobile phones in the country.

It is recalled that, at the end of last year, also the Metropolitano de Lisboa went on to provide wi-fi in some stations.

Click here to see the video presentation of the Wifi network Free Reference.

Foto: Coimbra B/Pepe Martin/Creative Commons

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The project to renovate the first floor of the best-known monument of Paris began in 2012 and is expected to be completed later this year. Borne by the atelier-Rivière, Moatti said draft renovation of the first floor of the Eiffel Tower intends to transform the space into a place of entertainment and learning. With a contemporary design, the transformation will contemplate the introduction of various sustainable systems.

The installation of several solar systems, hydraulic and wind will allow reuse natural resources and reduce the ecological footprint of the space. So, will be installed solar panels which will allow you to provide energy and lighting with LED lamps. Will also be installed four windmills with vertical axes that will feed a water turbine and will be used a drainage system to collect rainwater.

With a budget of €24,9 million, the project includes the demolition and rebuilding of parts of the first floor and the pavilions Ferrié, hosting the welcoming lobby, shops and a restaurant. After being completed, the main reception area in front of the elevators will also be renovated and enlarged, with the addition of conference rooms, a multipurpose amphitheater and open-air museum route referred to in Inhabitat.

The floor of the first floor will be in glass and will be installed so that the balconies to 57 feet off the ground can be easily overlooked when. Equally important as the renewal project are the new access facilities that will be implemented, which will allow people with mobility difficulties visit the first floor.

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There are more and more robots for different purposes. Alvaro Cassinelli, an artist based in Tokyo, just to give you one more: robots transformed into lanterns â€" but a little scary.

The Toro-bots, as they called it, have the shape of a typical Japanese lantern, only mounted on top of a species of spider legs, which makes robots in bizarre objects. In addition to walking, the Toro-bots can still dance and emit flashes of light, as if from sirens.

The robots can be programmed to emit light at a fixed location or to follow certain person and illuminate the path, and the path is controlled via a tablet. Each Torus-bot has a "personality" of its own, since through infrared can "feel" the environment around you.

Additionally, the robots can be controlled collectively or individually. The Toro-bots were designed initially to illuminate an exhibition â€" Digital Shock â€" in the French Cultural Institute in Tokyo. The spider robots were built by an American company and each costs about €690.

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This plant can also be found in Southern Australia and in Queensland. However, their small size â€" about 50 cm tall â€" makes difficult its identification in the wild. Usually, this Orchid blooms between September and January.

Already the Duffy Duck was introduced into the children's imagination in the 1930, to replace other cartoons that were more popular earlier in the Decade, such as Mickey Mouse and Popeye. Throughout the ages the image of the Duffy Duck was suffering some changes, but his voice remained the same feature.

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