chris pp

Zoe,  You could mean this link: http://www.rocamadour.com/   Chris

If you meant Lammergeler, Feuillant, that could be one for Zoe!    Didn't think of that, the Bearded Vulture is definitely under pressure and France is supposed to be providing better protection. French Government got a big ticking off from the EU for not doing enough recently      Chris

I am sorry to hear about your troubles. I am forever telling people not to listen to their Mayor - someone I know was told by his Mayor that he need not worry about fencing his swimming pool!      Always write to the relevant authority, preferably in Paris. Good luck, Chris

I have done some further research on the Egyptian Vultures, it seems that they have been observed on the backs of cattle where they remove parasites either with their beaks or sometimes with the use of a talon. In addition, although mainly eaters of dead creatures, they will also eat lizards and insects from time to time - never live animals. Zoe. If you can wait a few days I will be having a meeting with my local LPO Friday and I will try to get some useful information for you. Best wishes to all,  Chris

Mojo, Why don't you E-Mail me your phone number and we can have a chat, I am not very near to you, I live in the south of the Vienne but I am working at Menigoute at present. E-mail [email protected]

"Argiope bruennichi",  I haven't found them to be dangerous - it tends to be the really small ones that you can't see that give the nasty bites. Best, Chris

Right now this seems to be coming from all directions, I have started to loose track of how many different forums this is running on. The problem I have is that I can only inform people of the situation and the potential difficulties that could arise. It would be wrong for me to suggest a course of action that may create a different set of difficulties with some of your locals. If you did choose to go down the route of taking your land "out of the chasse", using one of the associations, they do provide back up and legal assistance in the event of any future infractions. It is quite interesting that the French as far as can be ascertained are themselves 70% to 80% fed up with the irresponsible behaviour of some "hunters" and that coming to a reasonable arrangement with some will not prevent everyone who owns a gun where you live from abiding by it. Some people in the hunting fraternity are OK others not. Hope to get the factsheet finished this week! Best wishes, Chris  

Thanks for the information, it will be interesting to "follow" the cranes progress and with any luck get the chance to see some. I was completely unaware of the existence of the mapping and logging of information for the cranes online.  We live on one of the 2 "sub" flight paths for many migratory birds about 100km inland from La Rochelle on the west coast where vast numbers of birds are already starting to pass through.  It may be of general assistance to know that cranes tend to fly in V formations or long lines - Storks in loose flocks.  Chris

It's a bit long?  That's what I like about laws and regulations.   Seriously thanks Christine, there's quite a lot there that is useful to know.   Chris  

This afternoon I had a meeting with an officer of the Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage. He confirmed the distance of 150 metres and guns must be fired away from buildings. He also said that if someone with a gun had been obviously drinking alcohol the gun should be removed and the authorities called to make a breath test. He also said that should anyone have a problem to contact them. If you had seen this man (a professional controller of wild animals) you would have big problems calling him a tree hugger!   Chris    

Have you considered the LPO (Ligue de protection des oiseaux ) in Vienne or GODS ( Groupe Ornithologique des Deux-Sevres) in Deux-Sevres. Both have lots of members including non French and regular outings etc for members. Next Saturday 1st October with LPO Vienne: counting the Little Bustard & Stone Curlews North West of Poitiers. Sunday 30th Oct. Day trip to la Brenne. Non members welcome. Chris.  

The right to hunt is already there in law it does not need to be on your documents, this is the so called Law Verdaille from 1966 after Senateur Verdaille who created this law. The situation and how it came about, as with so many things, is complicated and as with many things in France the story begins with the revolution. Once again I would repeat what I have said before elsewhere " don't take to much notice of your Mayor"  Mayors are only ordinary people elected at the local level and have limited knowledge. Could you say what region you are in? Chris

An interesting thought Caroline although I am not sure how this would work. I imagine that your horses are fenced in but this did not prevent this person from entering?  Next, how much land do you have and what use is it registered for? I can say with certainty that I have often seen hunters with their dogs in fields with sheep and witnessed on one occasion the dogs kill two sheep. If you would be breeding the deer for commercial purposes you would have to register the fact and it is at this point that I am out if my depth! Hopefully someone else is going to have some answers to this. The great difficulty is that to simply not want people in your "garden" with guns, even though there is masses of countryside, is often taken as an affront by the local hunting community which can make life difficult whether you are French or non French. Chris

It doesn't seem easy where I live in 86, anything that is available is in small quantities or for chickens and relatively expensive. Its getting to the point where I am considering importing it from the UK. This could be useful, some good ideas on bird foods: http://www.rspb.org.uk/  and then type "bird food" in the search box. Chris

These are probably what are commonly called in English "Red Slugs" Arion rufus . Although called red slugs they come in a great range of colours: Red, Orange, Brown, Black or White. Can grow as large as 15cm (6inches) not toxic and generally eat rotting plant life and dead birds and mammals. I understand that they are actually eaten in Belgium.

These are probably what are commonly called in English "Red Slugs" Arion rufus . Although called red slugs they come in a great range of colours: Red, Orange, Brown, Black or White. Can grow as large as 15cm (6inches) not toxic and generally eat rotting plant life and dead birds and mammals. I understand that they are actually eaten in Belgium.

This subject keeps cropping up in one form or another.   Over the next couple of weeks I intend to write an article / fact sheet on all the various issues/ laws / regulations re "hunting in France". To answer your question in brief, if you live in a part of France with an ACCA covered by the Law Verdaille you can not stop hunters coming on your land without you going through a legal procedure the end result being that your land becomes "Chasse Interdite". This procedure can only be finalised at 5 yearly periods from the date of creation of your ACCA.   An application has to be made at the latest 6 months before the next 5 yearly "birthday" of your ACCA. Therefore this procedure could take as long as 5 years 5 months and 30 or 31 days. There are French Associations that will assist with this; Ligue ROC,   ASPAS    or the LPO Chris

It would be interesting to know whether this has been verified by the bird agencies that cover that region, all the information that I have states categorically that neither species takes live food, in fact it seems that the Egyptian vulture actually lands on the backs of "large animals" and removes the ticks. Could the sheep / lambs have already been dead?     Protecting creatures from human activity is not exactly disrupting the natural order, more like reestablishing it I would have thought? Should you discover more I would be interested in being kept informed. Thanks, Chris

Now the next question "froggy people" is which "model" have you got?  The type with a darkish band which goes from the eyes back along the flanks or the type without? And Peter, if I hear that you've been chopping them up! Chris

No need to panic Christiane - Griffon Vultures only eat dead creatures - honest!   Must be great to see them, bit to far for me to make a day trip.   Chris

Sounds like an Elephants Head hawk moth caterpillar. Big aren't they! You will probably find a picture of one if you do a Google search, sadly I haven't got a photo of one - they are not really that common. Chris

I am afraid that neither Krill nor ZEB100 seem to have read the thread. I have just arrived home from work and re read it. The issue is about the LAW, its application and people who break the law. I have no problems in my relationships with French people or society. Most of my spare time is spent working for the LPO, which I suppose most people consider to be the French equivalent of the RSPB, both are members of Bird Life International and also for the Nature associations in the region which are the equivalent of County Wildlife Trusts. I think it would be fair to say that these are FRENCH and very respectable. You also assume that the people posting on this thread are Brits? Best wishes Chris    

That is a very good point Christine, I often find myself in situations where I need to decide what will bring about the best long term results. There are times however when being trodden on is not an option!  Always think first - Chris

The way to deal with the Gendarmourie in France is to make a complaint!  If you make a complaint they are obliged to take action and investigate, they may not want to and they may not like it, but they must act. This applies to any matters not just hunters and guns. It just depends on how pushy you want to be. Chris

First I would like to thank James our Forum -Webmaster for adding this section, I hope that it becomes widely used! There are a number of different Birds of Prey in France, so it does rather depend on where you are as to what you may see. Buzzards are certainly common and these are often the birds that are seen soaring high on thermals frequently in groups. Other birds of prey in Poitou-Charentes where I live are Black Kites, Red Kites, Hen Harriers, Marsh Harriers, Monatagu's Harriers, Osprey, Goshawks, Honey Buzzards, Sparrowhawks, Hobbys and Peregrines. My favourite French bird site is: http://www.oiseaux.net Hope that this gives you a starting point,  Chris