I was so happy to have been invited to the local LPO meeting last week.
The LPO in France is the equivalent of the RSPB in the Uk and I entered the Salles des Fêtes/ Village Hall at Villejesus a little gingerly as I am completely out of my comfort zone in English with bird spotting, never mind in French!
Within minutes, I was staggered to find out we are living right in the centre of a site of an INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED area of importance for rare and endangered birds. Mons, Val d’Auge, Verdille, Gourville and down the road in Bresdon are all part of a Plaine de Barbezières à Gourville.
There are at least 22 species of birds of European interest and importance and 12 of them reproduce in this area for example, the Little Bustard, but also other associated open plain species: Oedicneme criard, Montagu’s and Hen Harriers, Red-backed Shrike, Black Kite, European Nightjar, Woodlark, Ortolan Bunting, the Red Pipit and more…
The LPO and Charente Nature run workshops to train volunteers in how to spot these birds at a safe distance, report numbers and how to protect their nesting sites. So, if you’re a keen birdwatcher, why not visit www.lagruegites.com and observe these rare creatures – we can advise you on how to do this safely without causing disturbance and how to report any findings back to our local LPO.
I am going to be attending meetings this year as I am keen to learn so I will keep you updated with developments.
Happy birdwatching!
