The island of birds in Arcachon

Situated right in the center of the Arcachon basin, The Island of Birds is a small paradise on the west coast of France, it shelters so many different breed of birds who are happy living there and they make an appointment in order to copulate or just to take advantage of the wide variety of vegetation. Also, they come mainly to have a good time under the generous sun that the surroundings of the bassin d'Arcachon are offering.

Being subjected to the ebb and the incoming tide, the island of birds is diving in the depths of the abyss so as to form a small islet 5 km in circumference at high tide against 16 km at low sea. Of course, the cove owes its name to the innumerable birds that migrate there in all seasons. Egrets, sandpipers, teals, black water chickens and ashy curlews are the main inhabitants of this enchanting island that take advantage of crassats and mattes to feed and to revitalize themselves.

During the autumn, hunting periods for larks and ducks are organized by adventurers who want to have good time at the heart of pristine nature. The neighboring inhabitants also benefit from the marine richness of the surrounding waters of the island by depositing large stakes to delineate the oyster beds.

Adorned with magnificent dwarf trees and acacia trees from Japan, the Island of Birds of the Arcachon Basin is a place of unmatched beauty, with a few "tchanque" huts that once served as a refuge for shepherds who exploited the marshy Landes. Located in the municipality of La Teste-de-Buch at the epicenter of the Arcachon basin, the island is today classified natural site since the decree of August 21, 2008. Its dimension often varies according to the ascent or of the descent of the tide, but on average it makes about 300 ha at high sea and over 3000 ha at low tide.