A new illustrated bird guide entitled Guide illustré des oiseaux de Camargue et des étangs méditerranéens (Illustrated guide to the birds of the Camargue and Mediterranean lagoons) has just been released.
Published by the association les Amis des marais du Vigueirat (Friends of the Marshes of Vigueirat), it is intended to enable all types of users, from amateur naturalists to experienced birders, tourists, hunters, and regular or very occasional visitors to quickly and easily recognise the main bird species found in the Camargue and other wetlands in the Mediterranean coastal zone.
It fills a gap in knowledge, as only a few other guides specifically cater to the knowledge needs of bird lovers in this region, despite the fact that it is one of the best areas in the world for ornithology with some 400 species already observed locally.
The author, Cyril Girard, has already worked at the Marshes of Vigueirat, the Camargue National Reserve, and the Tour du Valat. Extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife in the Camargue and a ringer for the French National Natural History Museum, for the last ten years he has been working almost exclusively on nature illustrations. He wrote all the texts in the guide, and illustrated the 34 colour plates that enable easy identification of the 142 species covered, which are described in terms of their appearance and behaviour, as well as the periods of the year in which they are present in the Camargue.
The work sells for €9.40 to make it accessible to as many people as possible. It was supported by Luc Hoffmann and the Tour du Valat, and many other organisations that endeavour to conserve the biodiversity of the Camargue. Printed in Marseilles in accordance with the strictest environmental standards, you can purchase it in a local bookshop or by contacting the Marais du Vigueirat directly.
Contact information of the Marshes of Vigueirat: e-mail [1] or tel.: +33 (0)4 90 98 70 91