Birds of Provence? Someone quipped that I should hardly be googling that as I was asked for information about birds of the avian variety that roamed the skies of Provence. Not being a skilled bird watcher, I would not know where to start apart from in Google.
And suprise, it's a tough search, throwing up very little (even Wikipedia drawa blanks), especially given that Provence is allegedly a bird watchers paradise.
Beyond Provence has the best summary on its Birds of Provence page: a lovingly compiled bird-by-bird summary, covering buzzards, eagles, falcons, flamingoes (flamants roses), owls & hawks.
Hugh Harrap has published a nice piece on Provence Post about provence birds. "One thing I love about Provence is the diversity of habitats and the proximity of great birding destinations. One such place, one that every birdwatcher will have heard of, is the Camargue. Thousands of waterfowl spend the winter here and among the masses of Shelduck, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler, Pintail, Pochard and Tufted Duck we’ve also found Black-Necked Grebes, Red-Crested Pochard, Bewick's Swans and Cranes." Hugh also published a few of his photos.
The Provence Luberon news sports an inauspicious page called "List of Birds in France" (that'll be "Liste des oeseaux de Provence"). The has a few bird snapshots, listing just 7 on its landing page. If you then click into one of these - I followed the prized Camargue pink flamingoes - there's a wealth of material to thrill the birding enthusiast, plus a great photo gallery.
The Pink Flamingo copy is a bit of a giggle, a nice attempt to appeal to the anglo bird watcher. "Pink Flamingo in Camargue is easily recognizable because of its pink colour and of its long foots. The way flamingo quack is very meaning. The flight in spite of its weight is typical, neck and foots elongated.
It frequents the coastal zones where it privileges lagoons and littoral ponds; the Camargue is perfectly convenient for it. Pink Flamingo feeds on shrimps and on invertebrates filtered in the mud due to its specialized beak endowed with combs. Its favourite dish is the shrimp " Artemia salina " and it's the reason of its pink coloring. Pink flamingos live in wide colonies of several thousand individuals; the couple builds a nest in ground heightened where the female will put down an annual single egg. Set on by the female as by male during about 30 days, the young flamingo is going to leave the nest after 10 days. He will join then the other young bird and will be brought up in crèche under the supervision of the adults until it first flight, 10 weeks later. "
Sweet really.
For the hardcore birdwatcher who wants a grass roots birds of Provence experience, I also found a diary of some intrepid birdwatchers by "a team of three spent a week in Provence based at La Barben east of Salen seeking the winter specialities of the area whilst still finding time for sampling the local food & culture. A gentle approach was taken but still most key birds seen; however no doubt a slightly more dedicated effort would have yielded more."
Hadn't heard of Fayence before, but it sounds lovely.
Posted by: Devra O'Gara | April 03, 2009 at 05:45 PM