Pollution of the lagoon caused by man has led to reclamation of interesting marginal environments such as marshes, meadows, wet woodland and river flood beds, which together form the unique lagoon environment. Abandoned clay quarries, now covered by spontaneous vegetation, offer a good habitat for displaced fauna whose original habitat has been compromised.

These include small molluscs, insects, reptiles and amphibians. During the migration season, passing birds often stop and rest in these areas.

The kingfisher (Alcedo attis) will live in old quarries offering a suitable habitat, provided it is not disturbed. It feeds on small fish and digs holes to lay its eggs.

The moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) belongs to the Rallidae family and is very common in ditches, canals and flooded clay quarries. It lays its eggs in a floating raft-like nest near aquatic vegetation.
The purple heron (Ardea purpurea) is a migratory bird that arrives from Africa in spring and leaves in late summer. It nests in large colonies in reedbeds and fishing valleys.

The Venice lagoon has the largest colonies of this bird in Italy.
The mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most common duck nesting in the lagoon, although only a small percentage of its ducklings survive as there are many strong predators in the area (other birds and mammals).
The Italian agile frog (Rana latastei) is an endemic species in Northern Italy, whose ideal habitat is along the now rare wet woodlands around the lagoon.

400 - 1000 - until today - rev. 0.1.6