In volo sull’Isola Bisentina

Bisentina Island, a gem of Lake Bolsena, is renowned for its mild climate and the extraordinary quantity and uniqueness of the plant and animal species it hosts. Uninhabited for some time, it retains traces of human activity that have preserved its environmental characteristics, making it a unique ecosystem for the growth of ancient plants and the development of a rich birdlife. Francesco Barberini, a “budding” ornithologist and young Standard-Bearer of the Republic, has periodically visited the island over the course of a whole year to survey and census the great variety of birds present. From this monitoring, he has observed how this place, an important stopover along migratory routes, is rich in different species with diverse habits and behaviors, from small finches to imposing cormorants. The story of this adventure is a guide enriched by the illustrations of Marco Preziosi, a renowned naturalistic illustrator, who portrays the twelve main species of birds that populate the island.

Francesco Barberini, a sixteen-year-old “budding” ornithologist, has already received many national and international awards for his scientific dissemination work. In 2018, he received from the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, the Certificate of Honor of Standard-Bearer of the Republic for scientific and dissemination merits. With Salani Editore, he has already published “What Happened to the Dinosaurs?” and “The Dinosaurs Flying Among Us.” He collaborates with newspapers and magazines, is a guest on radio and television programs, and gives lectures in schools, museums, and parks.

Marco Preziosi, illustrator and naturalistic artist, has created scientific and dissemination illustrations for numerous publications and for the most important organizations active in communication, conservation, and land management. He has exhibited in various shows in Italy and abroad and teaches naturalistic drawing courses. He has been collaborating with Francesco Barberini for some time.

The book contributes to bringing young people – and not only – closer to very current issues of knowledge, safeguarding, and respect for the natural environment, which are increasingly urgent today, in the hope that younger generations can grasp this important message also through the words of a contemporary scholar.