top cx logo
cx logo
Explorearrow down
search icon

Project aims to protect birds put at risk by skiers in Alps

Thirty-six ski resorts in the French Alps have signed up to a project to conserve “emblematic” mountain birds which are being put in danger by people going off-piste.

Protecting wildlife

Organisers of the “Birdski” project, a partnership between the Vanoise national park and the resorts, found that such practices, as well as some skiing equipment on the slopes, are endangering birds of prey such as the bearded vulture, or mountain wildfowl, including black grouse.

Eva Aliacar, from the Parc National de la Vanoise, said most people do not realise how disruptive skiing is to wildlife. “As off-piste skiing increases, birds which spend part of their lives on the ground are chased out of their habitats. Visitors post on social media that they saw black grouse rush out of bushes ahead of them when skiing off-piste, and how beautiful it was, but don’t realise the damage they are doing.”

Gardeners in France: the environmental reason why you shouldn't mow your lawn weekly

Surviving the winter

In common with other species, including the bearded vulture, golden eagle and rock ptarmigan, black grouse have to survive the mountain winters with very little food. They therefore need to use as little energy as possible. Escaping from skiers can mean they do not have enough energy to live until spring. In the case of the grouse, which build igloos for the winter, once chased away, they often do not return to their nests and have insufficient energy to build new ones. 

Adapting ski lift cables to be more bird-friendly

Ski lift cables are another hazard: birds often do not see them until it is too late to stop flying into them. Birdski is working with lift operators to equip cables with high-visibility bird-markers. Many grouse have been fitted with GPS transmitters so scientists can track movements and identify their habitat.

The project also aims to identify sensitive areas of woodland and prevent people skiing through them by planting more undergrowth, installing markers and giving out information. “We find that when people understand why certain areas are out of bounds, they respect the rules,” said Ms Aliacar. “With our ‘Be Part of the Mountain’ programme, we do a lot of awareness-raising, educating people about the impact of winter sports on wildlife.”

Explore France: 10 wildlife excursions to try in France

Guidelines for visitors

Guidelines include not pursuing animals, not approaching them, not disturbing animals with young – it can make adults abandon their offspring – and in the winter avoiding areas where birds and animals might be wintering (for more, see vanoise-parcnational.fr).

The story of Piero, the rescued vulture

A young bearded vulture that went travelling and ended up lost near Tours in the Indre-et-Loire suffering weakness and hypothermia – and having swallowed pieces of wire – was rescued and released back home to the Alps. NGO the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF) says a member of the public found the bird and reported it to the authorities. It was sent to the Hegalaldia wildlife hospital in the Basque country for tests and rehab. Genetic testing was done with the help of the VCF to find out where it came from – and they pinpointed its home and even its name.

The bird, known to conservationists in the Alps, is named Piero, a male that hatched in the Haute-Savoie last year. Piero was released back to the Vercors park, near its birthplace, fitted with a GPS tag. You can see where it was yesterday at tinyurl.com/y6dgzzfq. It has now gone travelling again and was heading for the Dordogne.

Tired of itchy bites? These are the best plants to grow in France to deter mosquitoes

Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France

Resident or second-home owner in France?
Benefit from our daily digest of headlines and how-to's to help you make the most of life in France
By joining the newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
See more popular articles
The Connexion Help Guides
featured helpguide
Healthcare in France*
Featured Help Guide
- Understand the French healthcare system, how you access it and how you are reimbursed - Useful if you are new to the French healthcare system or want a more in-depth understanding - Reader question and answer section Aimed at non-French nationals living here, the guide gives an overview of what you are (and are not) covered for. There is also information for second-home owners and regular visitors.
Get news, views and information from France