Are you passionate about discovering nature?
Come and explore the many trails and discover the wilderness of Lac de Serre-Ponçon.
Around twenty rare or remarkable plant species and twenty heritage animal species can be found in and around Lac de Serre-Ponçon.
The Durance valley is a major bird migration route. The Serre-Ponçon reservoir is the last major refuge area for migratory birds before they cross the Alpine chain (migration axis Camargue > Po Plain > Central and Northern Europe). Poor weather conditions at higher altitudes can force birds to stay at the bottom of the valley (migratory blockages are common in spring). The reservoir thus provides a resting area, particularly in autumn and spring.
The Lac de Serre-Ponçon is home to a large concentration of wintering ducks and a number of migrating, staging and wintering waterfowl, as well as many waders that use the mudflats uncovered during low-water periods.
Apart from spring and autumn, the most faithful species are :
- mallard (Anas platyrhynchos),
- great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus),
- yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis),
- black-headed gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus),
- black kite (Milvus migrans), especially in summer
During migration, many species are found on the silted-up margins, particularly waders:
- teal (Anas crecca) from early December to late February, especially upstream of the Savines bridge,
- the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) in autumn and spring
- grey heron (Ardéa cinerea) from mid-October to early March, especially around the Boscodon cone (Peyre blanc),
- the elegant avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta),
- little egret (Egretta garzetta),
- pink flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber roseus)..