The birds
Summary
Their mountain environment
The mountainous environment of the Hautes-Alpes, of which the Queyras is part, makes for difficult conditions in which animals, particularly birds, must survive cold, snow and shortage of food. Certain animals protect themselves from the cold by means of thick fur or plumage; others such as marmots hibernate underground, thus solving the problems of feeding and keeping warm at the same time. Mountain hares and ptarmigan camouflage themselves by changing colour with the seasons, and so attempt to escape predators such as foxes and birds of prey. But if this helps to conceal them against the snow, a dark pelt or plumage retains heat more efficiently. In winter big herbivores like mountain sheep, ibex and chamois come down into the woods to seek food and shelter. Each of these creatures adopts the best strategy for survival in its natural environment.
But they all must save as much of their energy as possible, which means moving as little as possible. Human beings must avoid disturbing wildlife and destroying vegetation as a result of winter sports – especially snow-shoeing, Nordic skiing and cross-country skiing. Black grouse in particular are easily put under stress. Disturbing their winter habitat more than three times can cause them to die of exhaustion, because their slow, heavy flight is energy-sapping and their winter food is particularly light in calories.
The birds
Birds of prey in the Queyras (Hautes-Alpes)
The bearded vulture, the largest vulture in Europe, is being reintroduced in the Hautes-Alpes. It can be seen in the Queyras, but is not apparently nesting yet. Golden eagles are slightly on the increase. Short-toed or snake eagles come in summer. These migratory birds, feed, as their name suggests, mainly on snakes.
Both they and kestrels hover while searching for prey (in French this is called the Flight of the Holy Spirit).
Recently a group of tawny or griffon vultures – birds that do not nest here – have been observed above Saint-Véran and Col Agnel. Apparently they come down from the nearby Drôme region to feed on the carrion of sheep and other animals left lying in the mountains.
Finally, don’t let us forget two small nocturnal birds of prey: the pygmy owl and the boreal owl.
Black grouse
While out hiking you may hear the black grouse calling.
This astonishing member of the gallinaceous family encounters the same problems of survival as the capercaillie, which is now extinct in the Hautes-Alpes. It is especially known for its mating dances, which take place between mid-April and mid-June, depending on the region and the severity of the winter. Nevertheless, being tree-dwelling, it adapts to the environment better than the capercaillie, particularly where there is woodland, sandy ground (for its dust-baths), and plentiful water for its great thirst. In the mountains, especially the Alps, this bird lives at altitudes between 1000 and 2700 metres in areas largely devoid of other game. It is very shy and fearful of humans; it seeks out quiet places.
In periods of severe cold, black grouse burrow horizontally into the snow to make a den where they can stay for several days. People snow-shoeing in the mountains or hunting for them (still permitted in the Hautes-Alpes but banned in nearby Drôme), have contributed to the disastrous decline in the numbers of black grouse in the Queyras. The Grand Bois de Ségure on the track to Pic de Maloqueste and the Lac de Ségure is a favourite wintering spot of these birds. Skiers’ and walkers’ disturbance of their habitat can be fatal. Please avoid these sensitive areas.
Ptarmigan
Colonising the alpine levels between 1800 and 3000 metres, ptarmigan or snow partridge undergo several colour-changes during the year, mimicking nature perfectly. They become completely white in winter apart from the tail which is black all year round.
Woodland birds
The woods of the Queyras are home to several varieties of tit (long-tailed, blue, coal, great, crested, alpine), as well as passerines (chaffinches, nuthatches, crossbills, wrens, black and spotted woodpeckers), and the small nocturnal birds of prey already mentioned.
Water-birds
Some passerines live mainly near streams and waterfalls, for example yellow and grey wagtails and dippers – astonishing birds that walk under water in search of food. live mainly near streams and waterfalls, for example yellow and grey wagtails and dippers.
High mountain birds
Certain birds have made their home in the high mountains. For example, whinchat and northern wheatear, redstart, water pipit, Alpine accentor, snow finch, rock partridge, Alpine chough, great raven – and of course birds of prey. Special mention should be made of the Alpine wall-creeper (tichodrome) which can be seen on large limestone cliffs. This bird is truly unique for the agile way it creeps along rocky faces and for its vaulting, butterfly-like flight.
The mountain environment
Le casse-noix moucheté, oiseau commun dans les Hautes Alpes, entasse les pignons du pin cembro dans des cachettes
The mountain environment of the Hautes Alpes, of which the Queyras is a part, creates difficult living conditions, where wildlife, especially birds, have to survive the cold, snow and lack of food. Some animals protect themselves from the cold with a thick coat or plumage, while others, such as the marmot, hibernate underground, solving their food problems at the same time. The mountain hare and the snow partridge (ptarmigan) camouflage themselves by changing colors according to the season, a way of escaping their natural predators: foxes and birds of prey... But while they blend in better with the snow, darker coats conserve heat better... In winter, the big herbivores - mouflons, ibex and chamois - come down to the forest in search of shelter and food. We have to trust nature: each species probably adopts the best strategy for survival.
But they all have to save energy as much as possible, and do so by moving as little as possible. Human winter sports activities must avoid disturbing the fauna and damaging the vegetation, especially when snowshoeing, Nordic skiing and hiking. Blackbirds are particularly sensitive to stress: disturbing them more than three times during the winter can be enough to cause them to die of exhaustion: their heavy flight demands a lot of energy, and their winter food is particularly low in calories.
Birds of prey in Queyras (Hautes Alpes)
The Bearded Vulture, Europe's largest vulture, is re-establishing itself in the Hautes Alpes: it can be seen in the Queyras, but apparently does not yet nest there. Thegolden eagle is said to be on the increase. The Short-toed Eagle can be seen in summer: a migrant, it feeds mainly on snakes.
We should also mention the Kestrel, which, like the Circaet, flies in place, or "holy-spirit"
...and recently, a group of griffon vultures has been observed in Saint-Véran and Col Agnel. They don't nest here, but probably come from the neighbouring Drôme to eat the various carcasses, sheep and others, abandoned on the mountain.
Aigle royal
Gypaete barbu
Circaete Jean le Blanc dévorant un serpent (Queyras)
Chouette chevêchette
Chouette de Tengmalm
Black Grouse
Tétras-lyre
While you're out walking, you might hear the black grouse, or Tetras-lyre, cooing...
This astonishing gallinaceous bird has the same survival problems as the capercaillie, now totally extinct in the Hautes Alpes. It is best known for its courtship rituals, which, depending on the severity of the winter and the region, take place between April 15 and June 15. Nevertheless, it adapts better to its environment than the capercaillie, as long as it can find trees (it is arboreal), sand nests for its dust baths and water, as it is often thirsty. In the mountains (especially in the Alps), it can be found at altitudes of between 1,000 and 2,700 m in little-traveled areas. It seeks peace and quiet, is very shy and fears man.
When it's very cold, it burrows under the snow, ending in a lodge where it can stay for many days. The development of snowshoeing, and the fact that hunting is still authorized in the Hautes Alpes, despite a decree banning it in the neighboring Drôme, have unfortunately contributed greatly to the catastrophic decline in grouse numbers in the Queyras.
The Grand Bois de Ségure, for example, on the direct route to the Pic de Maloqueste and Lac de Ségure, is a major wintering ground for black grouse. Disturbance by skiers or hikers can be fatal. We recommend skirting around the sensitive area.
The ptarmigan
Colonizing the alpine zone between 1800 and 3000 m, the ptarmigan or snow partridge is a bird that undergoes several moults during the year for perfect mimicry. It turns white in winter, except for its tail, which remains black.
https://www.oiseaux.net/oiseaux/lagopede.alpin.html
Lagopède alpin
Forest birds
Bec croisé des sapins
The forest is home to numerous chickadees (long-tailed, blue, great tit, black, crested, alpine...), many passerines (tree chaffinch, nuthatch, crossbill, wren, great spotted woodpecker, black woodpecker, speckled nutcracker), not to mention the small nocturnal birds of prey mentioned above.
Birds of the torrents
Some passerines are mainly found near streams and torrents: this is the case of the Wagtail and the Diving Dipper, an amazing bird that walks on the bottom of the water to catch its prey.
Cincle plongeur aux plumes mouillées
Birds of the high mountains and rock faces
Tichodrome échelette dans le Queyras
Some birds make their home in the high mountains. This is the case of the Wheatear, Black Redstart, Spioncelle Pipit, Alpine Accentor, Winter Warbler, Bartavelle, Yellow-billed Duck, Common Raven... and, of course, birds of prey. A special mention goes to the Tichodrome échelette, which can be seen on the large limestone cliffs. This bird is truly unique, not only for its movement along the rock faces, but also for its distinctive butterfly-like flight.
Visit the Queyras wildlife museum
In Ristolas, you can visit the Arche des Cîmes, a veritable museum of flora and fauna, where the Parc Naturel Régional du Queyras presents all the diurnal and nocturnal birds of the Hautes Alpes.