Throughout the spring, volunteer shepherds took the time to observe the birds accompanying their flocks, noting their numbers, distribution and times of passage.
Sometimes accompanied in the field by Etienne BECKER from the Conservatoire d’espaces naturels de Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Perrine TURIEZ from the Chambre d’Agriculture des Bouches-du-Rhône, the shepherds were also generous enough to share their experience, offering advice such as how to build an exclosure (set up for the reintroduction of the Crau grasshopper) to keep out unruly sheep.
These shared moments spent in the field were an opportunity to listen to their feedback on their work in Crau, their working conditions and their needs.
This season of grazing and close collaboration ended with an aperitif shared by shepherds and employees of the National Nature Reserve, in a very convivial atmosphere on June the 7th, a few days before the departure of the last sheep flocks still present in the Crau.
Thank you to all the volunteer shepherds who have done their bit to save the Crau Grasshopper!