On the Grands Causses, you’ll find the same birds of prey as in the Gorges du Tarn. The avifauna of the Causse Sauveterre and Causse Méjean is therefore also remarkable: in addition to several species of vulture, many other birds of prey live here too: kites, buzzards, eagles, short-toed eagles, peregrine falcons and eagle-owls…
Vultures and their nests, Gorges du Tarn.Vultures and their nests, Gorges du Tarn.|
Birds of prey on the Grands Causses
All about
Birds of prey on the Grands Causses
#1
The Griffon vulture
The griffon vulture is the most common species of vulture in Lozère. Often living and moving in groups, they are easy to spot on the Causse Méjean and Causse de Sauveterre ledges.
Griffon vulture in flight in the Gorges du Tarn et de La Jonte.Griffon vulture in flight in the Gorges du Tarn et de La Jonte.
DID YOU KNOW?
The ideal place to observe the griffon vulture on the Causse de Sauveterre is the Point Sublime panorama, where numerous vultures hover over visitors all year round… On the other side of the Tarn, on the Causse Méjean, go to the Roc des Hourtous, where you’ll also see one…
Black vultures in flight in the Gorges du Tarn et de la Jonte. Black vultures in flight in the Gorges du Tarn et de la Jonte.
#2
The black vulture
The black vulture is one of Europe’s largest birds of prey. Flying alone or in pairs, they sometimes fly in the company of griffon vultures… Less numerous than griffon vultures, they are difficult to observe… unless you’re lucky, so keep an eye out!
#3
Egyptian vultures
The Egyptian vulture, present in the Gorges du Tarn et de la Jonte, also sometimes flies over the Grands Causses… This medium-sized bird of prey is a migratory bird. These birds of prey are notorious for staying put. In fact, they are capable of building several nests in the hollows of cliffs, so as to have several places to nest, sleep or feed.
Percnopter VulturePercnopter Vulture
#4
The bearded vulture
The bearded vulture is the rarest vulture in Lozère, making it difficult to observe… In fact, they don’t reproduce until they are 8 years old, which slows down their evolution in terms of population.
The "Bearded Vulture" in flight is the rarest vulture in Lozère, and is located in the Gorges du Tarn et de la Jonte.The "Bearded Vulture" in flight is the rarest vulture in Lozère, and is found only in the Gorges du Tarn et de la Jonte.|
Circaete jean le blanc.Circaetejeanleblanc|
#5
Other birds of prey
Many other birds of prey can be found on the Grands Causses: red kites, buzzards, eagles, white-tailed eagles, peregrine falcons, eagle-owls… All live in the heart of a protected natural environment, and feed easily on the Causse Méjean and Causse de Sauveterre, lands of agropastoralism. Indeed, it’s not uncommon to see birds of prey hunting mice, rats, snakes and other terrestrial animals while haymaking and working the land.
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