Work to protect birds from dangers of french ski resorts is a success

SIMPLE ACTIONS LIKE ATTACHING BRIGHTLY COLOURED DISCS TO ELECTRICITY WIRES AND SKI LIFT CABLES IS HELPING TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS A scheme to help preserve bird populations in skiing resorts

has been a great success, says Sandrine Berthillot, of the Parc National de la Vanoise. “This latest project was financed via the EU’s Birdski initiative, but we have been running similar

projects for the last 20 years.” The mountains account for around 30% of mainland France but are home to around 85% of the country’s mammals, amphibians and birds. It is therefore vitally

important to preserve the biodiversity of this habitat. This is especially the case as French mountain regions become popular holiday resorts in summer as well as in winter. READ MORE:

FRENCH MOUNTAIN RESORTS NOW OFFER MUCH MORE THAN JUST SKIING Ski resort infrastructure can be fatal to bird life. Sometimes in flight, they do not see cables (i.e. phone and electricity

wires, zip wires, cables supporting ski lifts) or safety netting, especially in foggy weather. So wires and cables have been equipped with brightly-coloured discs. Birds of prey (vultures

and eagles) as well as landfowl can be fatally disturbed by human activity. AREAS OF SAFETY “We have therefore established ‘_zones de tranquillité_’ where species like black grouse can nest

and hibernate undisturbed.” This is increasingly important as skiers explore off-piste. “In the beginning we marked out quite large zones but people did not respect them and we don’t have

any official way of keeping people out of these zones. So now we mark out many more zones containing trees and undergrowth but they are small enough to ski round, and that works a lot

better.” A project involving chipping birds with GPS – enabling researchers to track their movements – showed that the birds do actually use the zones de tranquillité. “These areas are

important because black grouse hollow out shallow nests in the undergrowth where they semi-hibernate all winter. If these are damaged by someone skiing over them, it can be fatal for the

grouse.” A COLLECTIVE EFFORT The work is now set to continue and Sandrine is happy to say that it is a partnership with all those involved; tourist operators, ski resorts and local

residents. “We do a lot of work raising consciousness, and highlighting the importance of preserving the Alpine environment, and these days I think everyone agrees that we can all share the

mountains.” There are 17 ski resorts surrounding the Parc National de la Vanoise, and the Compagnie des Alpes – which runs La Plagne, Les Arcs, Tignes, Val d’Isère, Méribel, Les Menuires,

Serre Chevalier, and Grand Massif – finance some of this work. READ MORE: SKI-SPEAK: EIGHT EXPRESSIONS TO SPEAK LIKE A LOCAL SKIER IN FRANCE They also install and monitor some of the

necessary equipment. “The Birdski project was a grand success, and the work will continue, probably with new funding under another name, because I think everyone involved understands its

importance”, says Sandrine Berthillot. READ MORE MYSTERY OF 130 DEAD SEABIRDS FOUND ON FRANCE’S ATLANTIC BEACHES WHY FRANCE'S NATIONAL SYMBOL - THE GALLIC COCKEREL - IS UNDER THREAT