Centre
Birding Central France
The region consists of the Departments of: Cher, Eure-et-Loir, Indre, Indre-et-Loir, Loir-et-Cher & Loiret. The traditional Provinces of: Berry, Orleanais, Touraine & Ile-de-France.
This is an area of France often passed through on the way to somewhere else. It contains some superb habitat and interesting birds, insects (especially butterflies) and plants, too. The forests and lakes of the Sologne, between Orleans, Blois and Romorantin, and the Brenne, West of Chateauroux are the best areas.
Top Sites
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Grand Corbois Lake
Satellite ViewThe Grand Corbois lake in the Sologne, at St Viatre, 25km South of Orleans is an excellent site. -
The Parc Natural Regional de la Brenne
WebpageSatellite ViewCovering some 10,000 hectares and with over 1200 ‘etangs’, man-made lakes, the Brenne has reedbeds, meadows, rough pasture, cereal production and woodland, also two river valleys and some calcareous zones. Bird species number over 280, and at least 98 butterfly species and 60+ odonata species have been recorded here; orchid species number over 40. Amongst the birds, 150+ Common Cranes winter here, Whiskered Terns [c1000 pairs] and Black-necked Grebes [150+ pairs] nest, as do Purple Heron, Cattle Egret, Night Heron, Black-winged Stilt, a few pairs of Short-toed Eagle, and 30+ nesting pairs of Bee-eater; unfortunately Little Bustards are a thing of the past here. There are two good visitor centres, one at Cherine nature reserve [‘Maison de la Nature’], and one at Le Bouchet [‘Maison du Parc’], and a total of 10 hides throughout the park, 3 of which are at Cherine reserve.The biggest problem with the Brenne is that most etangs are private and the surrounding land difficult to access. However, apart from the reserve and other parts open to the public, there’s a very extensive network of well sign-posted footpaths that really open the Park up and provide some of the best birding – details from either visitor centre.
Contributors
Organisations
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La Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux - Touraine
WebsiteLa Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux - Touraine est une association loi 1901 ependante mais conventionn
Reserves
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RNP La Brenne
WebsiteSatellite ViewThe park is cut in two by the Creuse River. The wild countryside of La Brenne Regional Nature Park, which covers 166,000 hectares, is dotted with over 2,000 lakes and ponds and a paradise for flora and fauna, especially migratory birds that stop there to reproduce. A dream destination for botany and ornithology fans, this haven of peace strewn with lakes and ponds, marshland, reed beds, moors, prairies and woods is home to no fewer than 2,300 animal and 1,200 plant species! Among its most emblematic are European pond turtles, purple herons, orchids, black-necked grebes, ducks, Eurasian bitterns and dragonflies. -
RNP Natural Regional Parc of Loire-Anjou-Touraine
WebsiteSatellite ViewMore than 200 bird species are present. Among mammals European beaver has recolonised the Loire and its tributaries since its reintroduction in the Loiret in the 1970s. -
RNP Perche Regional Nature Park
WebsiteSatellite ViewThe Perche, a rural area astride Normandy and the Centre-Val de Loire regions, is depicted by lush green meadows, wooded hillsides of hundred-year-old beeches and oak trees.
Other Links